The Edition
facebook icon twitter icon instagram icon linkedin icon

Latest

Yameen's appeal to be filed next week: Jameel

Malika Shahid
20 January 2023, MVT 16:36
Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed speaking at a press conference held by PPM last night -- Photo: PPM
Malika Shahid
20 January 2023, MVT 16:36

Former President Abdulla Yameen's team of lawyers is working to file an appeal against the sentence handed to him next week, according to Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed.

Yameen is currently serving an 11-year sentence in Kaafu atoll Maafushi Prison after the Criminal Court convicted him of accepting bribes and money laundering in the Vaavu atoll Aarah case. He was also fined USD 5 million.

Sharing his concerns over the verdict, Jameel said the court's actions after Yameen's case were unprecedented in a criminal case in Maldives.

He said the law requires the verdict report to be given to the plaintiff and the defendant, but Yameen's lawyers were in court all day calling for the report. He expressed concern that the report should have been given immediately but the court did not do so.

“The next day, the leadership of our two parties [PPPM and PNC] went to protest and did not get a summary report till 2:00 p.m."

"In such a big case, they could not give a report on that day. Why didn't they give a copy of the report when he [Yameen] was given such a big prison sentence? What happened? How did it happen? The court did not give an answer to this. Judicial Service Commission (JSC) also did not respond,” Jameel said, expressing concern.

Jameel also expressed dissatisfaction with the report. He said that according to the law of Maldives, the verdict of the court shall be the verdict of the judge hearing the case and it cannot be changed.

"When we received the summary report, we found out that the live hearing had been taken down from YouTube. We wrote the verdict with great effort. There are major discrepancies [in the verdict]. We will explain them at the appeal stage," Jameel said, noting that it took many days to get the full report of the case.

He said he received the full report after many days and it was too big to not thoroughly look at before making an appeal. Although it will take some time, Jameel said that he hopes to file the appeal next week.

"We have seen many reports. But there are unusual things in this report that are not seen in any other report. Different things have come up in different places and different arguments have come up for the same thing.

He said the charges against the person, the strength of the appeal and the legal points raised will be considered when a person is released on bail. Jameel said he was confident that the High Court would "toss it" (the verdict) as it was a very inaccurate verdict.

Therefore, the best respite the judges can give Yameen during this period is to transfer him home on bail, Jameel said.

Share this story

Related Stories

Discuss

MORE ON NEWS