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Ex-pres Yameen's lawyer accused of assisting money laundering

Mariyam Malsa
01 January 2019, MVT 17:36
Former President Yameen's lawyer Azima Shakoor. PHOTO: NISHAN ALI/ MIHAARU
Mariyam Malsa
01 January 2019, MVT 17:36

Police, on Monday, revealed that the lawyer of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Azima Shakoor, has been accused of providing assistance to Yameen in carrying out money laundering activities.

In addition to being accused of aiding her defendant’s alleged criminal activities, the police have also accused Azima of misinforming government institutions regarding the money laundering activities.

The former Legal Affairs Minister at the President’s Office was summoned to Police Headquarters on Sunday. She confirmed that she had been questioned regarding the cases of Yameen’s alleged money laundering to the local media outlet Mihaaru.

Since the investigation is currently ongoing, Azima stated that no further details could be revealed.

The former President’s lawyer has guaranteed that she would provide her full cooperation to the police in their investigation.

As Police regulations prohibit individuals accused of criminal offences from acting as lawyers, it is believed that Azima will no longer be able to remain as Yameen’s legal representative.

Former president Yameen was summoned to the police headquarters on December 15 regarding MVR 22.5 million deposited into his Maldives Islamic Bank account about two weeks before the 2018 Presidential Election. Yameen’s bank accounts, containing assets of over MVR 100 million, have also been frozen in relation to the case.

Acting Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed recently gave an interview to Mihaaru, revealing that several top government officials might be implicated in Yameen’s alleged acts of corruption. The Acting Police Commissioner asserted that these officials would also be investigated.

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