High Court of Maldives has rejected the bail plea of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
The lawyers of the former president submitted an appeal to High Court requesting to release him on bail until the court can issue a verdict on the appeal or to delay serving the sentence. The High Court ruled the sentence by Criminal Court cannot be overturned or delayed.
At the first hearing of the appeal against the five-year prison sentence issued by Criminal Court, Yameen stated it is impossible to pay the fine of USD 5 million imposed upon him by the state while he is still in prison. As such, Yameen said it is important that he is released from prison.
Speaking at the appeal hearing, Yameen said he has been undergoing physical and psychological damages due to being detained in prison, noting he has been suffering from pain caused by an irregular movement of his hip bone. Yameen added he is also suffering from a heart disease, for which the required scans are not available in Maldives.
Yameen was sentenced to five years in prison after he was found guilty of the money laundering charges pressed by the state as part of the corruption scandal of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).