The Civil Court of the Maldives has dismissed the case filed by the Attorney General's Office (AGO) to collect the USD5 million fine from former President Abdulla Yameen.
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 the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). The court also ordered him to pay a USD5 million fine within six months for money laundering. The deadline was reached on June 25.
However, the Civil Court recently ruled that it cannot proceed with the case as the High Court issued an order to all relevant state authorities to halt any action to recover any fine from former President Yameen until the High Court gives a ruling on the appeal case. The High Court also ordered the lower courts not to proceed with any case regarding fines.
As such, the Civil Court ruled to dismiss the case due to the ongoing appeal hearings at the High Court. The Civil Court noted that the state will have the right to enforce the fine if the High Court upholds the Criminal Court's ruling.