The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has submitted a request to the Civil Court of the Maldives to enforce the USD 5 million fine imposed on former President Abdulla Yameen by the Criminal Court of the Maldives in 2019.
On November 28, 2019, the Criminal Court sentenced Yameen to 5 years in prison and imposed a fine of USD 5 million after finding him guilty of laundering USD 1 million received as the acquisition cost for the lease of Vodamula, Gaafu Alifu Atoll for resort development through Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). The former president was ordered to pay up the fine to Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within 6 months. However, the fine was not paid within the given timeframe.
The AGO revealed former President Yameen was given a notice on June 26, 2021 under the Tax Administration Act to pay up the fine within 30 days. However, the AGO stated Yameen had failed to pay up the fine within this period as well.
The AGO stated a request has been submitted to the Civil Court on August 24 to enforce the fine on Yameen. The AGO stated the request has been submitted under Article 50 of the Tax Administration Act, which grants the Attorney General authority to seek any amounts owed to the state through courts.
Former President Yameen is currently under two more trials on charges related to corruption, bribery and money laundering. As such, Yameen has been charged of using his influence as the president to seek a bribe of USD 1.1 million during the lease of Fuhgiri, Raa Atoll for resort development through MMPRC, and laundering the money. He has also been charged over the embezzlement of USD 1 million during the lease of Aarah, Vaavu Atoll for resort development through MMPRC.