Supreme Court to hear plea to accept new evidence against Yameen

The Supreme Court of Maldives has scheduled a hearing to decide on accepting new evidence against former President Yameen Abdul Qayyoom, after his previous 11 year prison sentence was quashed.

The case, which was filed by prosecutors and accepted by the Supreme Court back in August, will have the first hearing on 20th November.

The judges' bench includes Judge Aisha Shujune Mohamed, Judge Dr. Azmiralda Zahir and Judge Mohamed Ibrahim.

Yameen was first sentenced to 11 years in prison after being convicted of accepting a USD 1 million bribe in leasing Vaavu atoll's Aarah island. However, the ruling was quashed by the High Court, which also ordered a retrial.

As the retrial began at the Criminal Court, the High Court also ruled that no new evidence could be admitted. This prompted prosecutors to make an appeal with the Supreme Court to decide on allowing new evidence against Yameen.

At the same time Yameen's lawyers also argued against proceeding with the retrial until the Supreme Court's verdict. As such, the case' Criminal Court hearings have been postponed until then.

Yameen's defence has also requested the Prosecutor General's Office to review the charges levelled against Yameen.

The High Court had also quashed the jail sentence handed to former MP of Felidhoo constituency Yoosuf Naeem. His case has also been appealed at the Supreme Court and is now scheduled for a hearing.