Former President Abdulla Yameen's recent Aarah case in Vaavu Atoll has been filed for appeal at the High Court on Tuesday.
Yameen was convicted of accepting bribes and money laundering in the Aarah case and was sentenced to 11 years in prison, as well as a fine of USD 5 million, on December 25, 2022.
Yameen's first Vice President, Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, who leads his legal team, confirmed via a tweet that the case has been filed and expressed hope that the appeal would be successful.
The High Court has not yet made a decision regarding whether to hear the case.
Yameen's legal team had previously stated that they believed he would be acquitted by March.
Yameen will be ineligible to run in the upcoming presidential election on September 9 as long as his conviction for accepting bribes and money laundering in the Vaavu atoll Aarah lease transaction remains in effect.
The opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People's National Congress (PNC) coalition maintain that Yameen will be their presidential candidate and have continued to call for his release.