The legal defence team of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has expressed concern over the coercion and duress of the administration against a key state witness, as well as the presiding judge in the ongoing money laundering case against the former president.
Ahead of witnesses taking the stand for cross examination in the second case hearing, the legal defence team reiterated concerns shared with the local press over the weekend by the state's key witness, former President of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Hassan Luthufee.
In an interview to an e-news journal, Hassan Luthufee had said he was living in constant fear as a result of threatening phone calls and attempts to coerce him to ensure his witness statement would incriminate the former president. In particular, he went on to name Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla as being among those who had attempted to coerce him. The state's entire case was founded on Luthufee’s statement, which the former president had already noted is a total fabrication, highlighted the legal defence team.
Furthermore, the legal team noted presiding judge in the ongoing hearings, Justice Ahmed Hailam is currently being investigated for an unknown disciplinary matter, at the behest of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). The team said with a 2/3 majority in parliament, the administration has complete control over the JSC membership.
The decision to investigate Justice Ahmed Hailam three days before a key date in President Yameen's case is, as noted by the legal defence team, an attempt to intimidate the judge and thereby return a favourable political verdict for the embattled government.
The statement claimed public anger and frustration has been escalating in recent weeks and months over the slow pace of delivery of presidential manifesto pledges and the deepening economic crisis.