Lawyers of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom have submitted an appeal to overturn his prison sentence.
At a court hearing, the lawyers submitted 75 reasons to release him from the 5-year sentence he is currently serving after being convicted of money laundering. Some reasons submitted by the lawyers state he was jailed following a targeted hearing and he was not questioned during the investigation.
Additionally, the list stated the case did not follow the Criminal Procedures Act of the courts and the witnesses taken by the state should also not have been accepted. The lawyers additionally claimed Yameen was not given enough time to prepare for his defence.
After continuing the hearing for one and half hours, the judges decided to listen to a summary of the points in the appeal claims. The court decided give the lawyers from Prosecutor General's Office to respond to claims once the summary of the claims have been shared.
High Court had decided there is no reason to release the former president on bail until his appeal process is complete. Although the case was appealed by the former president, the judges’ panel had decided to withhold the verdict, rejecting the appeal case.
The next hearing has been scheduled for March 3, with a subsequent hearing to be held on March 5 to conclude the appeal hearing.