The Criminal Court on November 28, 2019 sentenced former President Abdulla Yameen to five years in prison for laundering USD one million in the Gaafu Alifu atoll Vodamulaa lease case. His lawyers then filed an appeal with the High Court within two days of the verdict.
After being acquitted in the Vodamulaa case, Yameen was sentenced to 11 years in prison and fined USD 5 million by the Criminal Court on December 25 for accepting USD 1 million in bribes and laundering said money in the Vaavu atoll Aarah case. Two weeks have passed since the verdict was declared, and no appeal has been filed so far.