The Criminal Court has released the detailed verdict report of former President Abdulla Yameen's 11-year prison sentence, today.
The former President 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 the said money in the Vaavu atoll Aarah case.
Defendants have 60 days to appeal a case in the High Court.
Yameen's lawyers had earlier said they require the detailed verdict report and all the statements made in court to prepare an appeal against the verdict. The lawyers had said they are facing delays in preparing the appeal due to not receiving the documents.
Adam Shameem, one of Yameen’s lawyers, tweeted today that the Criminal Court had issued the verdict report and that there were "difficult hard days" ahead.
Earlier, the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People's National Congress (PNC) had expressed concern over the court's failure to provide a report on the outcome of the trial. The opposition leadership had earlier approached the court seeking the verdict report on Yameen's trial.
However, the court said it will not release documents regarding a case except to the individual involved or the lawyers representing the person.
The court has 14 days, excluding public holidays, to issue a report on the completion of a trial. Today marks the 14th day since Yameen was sentenced, excluding weekends.
It is important for Yameen's supporters to appeal the sentence as soon as possible as the candidacy application for the 2023 presidential election will be opened in the next few months.
With the current verdict, the door is closed for Yameen to contest the election. He will only be able to contest if the High Court releases him before the deadline for submitting his candidacy.
In 2019, the Criminal Court sentenced Yameen to five years in prison in the Gaafu Alifu atoll Vodamulaa lease case. His lawyers had then filed an appeal within two days of the verdict.
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