The High Court of the Maldives has ruled not to postpone former President Abdulla Yameen's 11-year prison sentence.
In December 2022, the Criminal Court sentenced former President Yameen to 11 years in prison after finding him guilty of charges of money laundering and accepting bribes in relation to the lease of Aarah, Vaavu Atoll, for resort development through Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). The court also ordered him to pay a USD5 million fine within six months for money laundering.
After the appeal hearings, the High Court determined that while it cannot postpone Yameen's prison sentence, it will defer the payment of the USD5 million fine. The court has directed relevant state entities to halt the collection process for the fine from Yameen.
However, the High Court refrained from issuing instructions to suspend the implementation of the prison sentence, aligning with a Supreme Court ruling that prison terms imposed for criminal charges cannot be postponed. The High Court emphasised that issuing an order to postpone such a prison sentence without a valid legal basis would undermine the integrity of judicial procedures.
Former President Yameen lost the opportunity to participate in the 2023 presidential election following the Supreme Court's ruling that his ongoing prison sentence renders him ineligible to stand as a candidate.