The opposition Progressive Congress Coalition has held a rally to celebrate the release of former President Abdulla Yameen from his 5-year prison sentence.
The rally was held on December 3, at the Alimas Carnival area in Male’ City. The rally was attended by former presidents Abdulla Yameen and Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, leadership and the parliamentary group of the opposition coalition and a large number of supporters.
Speaking at the rally, former President Yameen thanked his supporters for their dedication to the efforts to release him from prison. He criticised the policies of the current administration, and also directed criticism at the press.
Former President Yameen was acquitted after the Supreme Court overturned the prison sentence imposed on him by the Criminal Court in November 2019 on charges of money laundering. The Criminal Court had convicted Yameen of laundering USD 1 million acquired through the lease of Vodamula, Gaafu Alifu Atoll for resort development through Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). However, the Supreme Court declared that the state could not prove that the USD 1 million deposited to Yameen’s bank account by SOF Private Limited had indeed belonged to the state.
Despite the nullification of the sentence, Yameen is still facing trial over money laundering and bribery charges related to two other cases.