Hearings have concluded in the trial against former President Abdulla Yameen, who is accused of accepting USD 1 million as a bribe for the lease of R. Fuggiri and laundering that money, with the sentencing session scheduled for late this month.
Judge Ali Nadeem, who presides over the case at the Criminal Court, stated today that the sentencing session will take place on the 29th of this month at 11:00hrs. Today, closing statements were presented, and the hearings were concluded.
Speaking during the closing statements hearing, Yameen mainly highlighted that there is no basis for bringing these charges against him.
In the Fuggiri case as well, the main witnesses against Yameen were former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and former MD of MMPRC Abdulla Ziyath. Yameen questioned the credibility of their testimony.
Yameen stated that the deal made by the state providing leniency to Adeeb was done to obtain statements from him against Yameen in this case.
Yameen's lawyers also raised several questions regarding the testimony of Adeeb and Ziyath. In this regard, lawyer Dr. Mohamed Jameel stated that Adeeb and Ziyath are a machine used by the state to fabricate evidence against Yameen.
Noting that the Supreme Court had also ruled that both individuals are corrupt sinners (faasiq) and hold animosity toward Yameen, Jameel stated that Yameen cannot be convicted based on any weight given to their testimony.
Jameel pointed out that the actual culprits in the MMPRC corruption case were Adeeb and Ziyath, who had confessed to the crime, and that the state had freed both of them. Furthermore, he stated that Yameen is being subjected to political persecution instead.
Jameel stated that these charges are an unconstitutional act carried out through the state to politically isolate Yameen.
Yameen's defense lawyer Hamza Latheef stated that Adeeb and Ziyath gave testimony in this case while an agreement existed between them and the state, a circumstance in which they were receiving various benefits and leniencies to the extent of the state's satisfaction. Hamza questioned whether the testimony of individuals in such a situation could be fair.
If any wrong was committed in the lease of Fuggiri, Adeeb and Ziyath have confessed to it, and the state has no evidence linking Yameen to any matter related to that transaction, Hamza stated.
Hamza stated that a dollar transaction that took place long after the Fuggiri lease transaction cannot be linked to it, and therefore, the state has failed to prove that it was money obtained through a crime. When it cannot be proven that the money was acquired through a crime, the elements of the offense of money laundering cannot be proven.
Hamza also raised questions over the state's withdrawal of charges against Krik Riza, whom the state accused of being the bribe giver while claiming Yameen accepted a bribe. Additionally, the charges against two Sun companies for facilitating money laundering were not proven. The state has also decided not to appeal that case.
Therefore, Hamza raised questions regarding the state's intention, as it continues to pursue only Yameen's case while letting off other individuals accused of being involved in the matter.
In addition to this case, the case of corruption in the lease of V. Aarah is also ongoing at the Criminal Court. The trial currently underway follows the High Court's order to re-examine the case after quashing the Criminal Court's previous conviction.
