Former Maldives leader Yameen’s Aarah retrial resumes after one-year hiatus

Former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s retrial in the Aarah money laundering case resumed at the Criminal Court on Tuesday, after hearings in the case remained suspended for a year.

Yameen was sentenced to 11 years in prison on December 25, 2022, on charges of bribery and money laundering in connection to the sale of V. Aarah. The High Court overturned the conviction on April 18, citing major legal irregularities.

But instead of a full exoneration, the court overturned the two convictions and ordered a retrial in the case.

Yameen was accused of accepting a bribe from former Felidhoo MP Yoosuf Naeem for the sale of Aarah. During the original trial, Yameen produced witnesses to support his claim that the money was for a US dollar exchange transaction. The court had accepted the admission of new evidence by the prosecution to counter the testimony of the defense witnesses.

The High Court, in its April 2024 ruling, instructed the lower court to disregard the new evidence introduced by the state. The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) filed an appeal with the Supreme Court arguing that the order by the High Court to disregard the evidence was in contravention of precedence set by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court issued its ruling in the case on July 1, deciding against allowing the state from introducing the new evidence.

The retrial had remained suspended until the Supreme Court made its decision on the evidence, which included records of the MNDF attendance and Economic Youth Council meetings of Ahmed Nareesh, a key defense witness in the original trial.

On Tuesday, the Criminal Court is set to hear pre-trial motions in the case.

Yameen is also on trial on similar charges linked to the lease of R. Fuggiri. However, the hearing scheduled in the case for Tuesday was cancelled after prosecutors called in sick.

Second acquittal

Yameen’s acquittal in the Aarah case had marked the second time for a court to overturn a conviction against the former Maldivian leader. In 2021, the Supreme Court overturned a five-year sentence issued against him for money laundering in connection to the sale of GA. Vodamulla – another island which was leased for resort development during his administration.

The conviction in the Aarah case had disqualified Yameen from contesting the 2023 presidential elections. Though he initially asked the then-opposition PPM-PNC (Progressive Party of Maldives-People’s National Congress) coalition to boycott the election, he later endorsed President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who won the vote taken by the coalition’s joint senate to produce a backup candidate.

Yameen was transferred home on October 1, 2023 – a day after President Muizzu won the presidential election.

But less than a week after President Muizzu took office in November, Yameen left the ruling PPM-PNC and initiated efforts to form a new party, the People’s National Front (PNF).

He later grew increasingly vocal in his criticism of President Muizzu’s administration, and has repeatedly alleged that President Muizzu and other members of the PPM-PNC leadership had never wanted him freed.

Yameen’s continued legal troubles comes ahead of the 2028 presidential elections, which he said he plans on contesting.