Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has claimed he was imprisoned as no means were found to frame him for a crime and that his incarceration was due to the influence of the government.
Addressing a campaign event held by the Progressive Congress Coalition via telephone, the former president said during his term in office, people were jailed for committing atrocities, even if they happened to be political leaders. He said on the other hand, he was jailed purely as a result of political influence. He said that no judicial ruling was made, and that the only purpose of his incarceration was silencing him.
The former president added the opposition candidates have not received funds not because they do not have it. Yameen added that the coalition has adequate campaign funds.
Addressing the gathering the former president repeated his claim that his accounts were frozen in an unlawful manner. He accused authorities of freezing his accounts with the intention of blocking him from funding candidates that the Progressive Congress Coalition is fielding for the parliamentary election. Defending the development programmes he spearheaded in Hulhumale', the former president claimed that MDP is thirsty to reap the benefits from those programmes.
High Court has now nullified the Criminal Court verdict to freeze the accounts of the former president. He has also been released from jail.