Tuesday
26th Nov 2024
Dhivehi Edition
Former President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayyoom.
The State has posed several questions to former President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom at the hearing held on Thursday over the charges of bribery and money laundry levied by the State against him.
Hazy Accusations
It is not clear to me who bribed whom. Please tell me why, and in what circumstances, the bribe was paid. Explain to me how a wholly separate transaction I was involved in is in any way connected to the two supposed payments of bribes given to "Kurik" Ahmad Riza.Former President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom
The first charge levied by the State against the former president was that of bribery. The State claimed that Yameen had bribed Ahmed "Kurik" Riza and deposited said funds into the accounts of Sun Construction and Sun Investment before depositing the remainder in his personal account.
Once the charges were read in court, the judge asked the accused whether he had understood those charges. Yameen responded that he did not, as he said that it was unclear how he was involved in the case.
The State responded that the verbal testimony of State's Witnesses #1 and #2 demonstrated Yameen's dealings with "Kurik" Riza.
Once the charges were read in court, the judge asked the accused whether he had understood those charges. Yameen responded that he did not, as he said that it was unclear how he was involved in the case.
The State responded that the verbal testimony of State's Witnesses #1 and #2 demonstrated Yameen's dealings with "Kurik" Riza.
'It is not clear to me who bribed whom. Please tell me why, and in what circumstances, the bribe was paid. Explain to me how a wholly separate transaction I was involved in is in any way connected to the two supposed payments of bribes given to "Kurik" Ahmad Riza', Yameen said. He said that the origins and the circumstances of the money that had entered his personal account had already been explained in detail.
The President's Influence
If this is claimed, I will give a simple example. The President can influence what is preached at the sermons in the mosques. However, the procedures of leasing islands for tourism is based on hectarage and goes along published guidelines. It is unclear to me what is meant when it is said that the President could influence the leasing processFormer President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom
Yameen responded to the State's charges that he, through the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Company, influenced and benefited from the sale and leasing of islands and lagoons. He said that the structures of Maldivian government did not allow him to freely order his subordinate ministers to break the law as he wished.
"If this is claimed, I will give a simple example. The President can influence what is preached at the sermons in the mosques. However, the procedures of leasing islands for tourism is based on hectarage and goes along published guidelines. It is unclear to me what is meant when it is said that the President could influence the leasing process", Yameen said.
Based on this, the State withdrew the testimony of Witness #1 and #2. It is believed that these witnesses are Ahmed Adeeb and Abdullah Ziyath.
"If this is claimed, I will give a simple example. The President can influence what is preached at the sermons in the mosques. However, the procedures of leasing islands for tourism is based on hectarage and goes along published guidelines. It is unclear to me what is meant when it is said that the President could influence the leasing process", Yameen said.
Based on this, the State withdrew the testimony of Witness #1 and #2. It is believed that these witnesses are Ahmed Adeeb and Abdullah Ziyath.
Dollar Exchanges
Given that it is illegal for a sitting president to conduct any private commercial business, the State accused the former President of having acquired dollars through private commercial activity. Yameen responded that the State has not specified the nature of the private commercial activity he is supposed to have engaged in prior to the accusation, nor has the State proven his involvement in any such activity. He said that given that any sitting President is bound to receive funds; as part of his income and as part of politication contributions and donations; the State had not proven any connection between the funds he received and any other funds.
Yameen denied having any connection to the funds received by "Kurik" Riza, and also claimed that the State had failed to prove the existence of any such connection. He also stated that exchanging his own money from Maldivian Rufiyaa to United States Dollars has been classified by the State as an engagement in private commercial business.
Yameen denied having any connection to the funds received by "Kurik" Riza, and also claimed that the State had failed to prove the existence of any such connection. He also stated that exchanging his own money from Maldivian Rufiyaa to United States Dollars has been classified by the State as an engagement in private commercial business.
The Absence of Paperwork
The presiding judge had said that the documents would be provided during the course of the legal proceedings. However, even at the end of the case, the Honourable Judge would know, we never received any documents. We were unable to prepare a proper defence. The verdict did not consider these aspects.Former President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom
The trial for the previous charges levied against the former President ended without him having had received any of the documents he would have required to prepare his legal defence, he claimed. He had requested for documents regarding the testimonies given at the trial, but had never received them.
"The presiding judge had said that the documents would be provided during the course of the legal proceedings. However, even at the end of the case, the Honourable Judge would know, we never received any documents. We were unable to prepare a proper defence. The verdict did not consider these aspects," Yameen said.
He requested the court to indicate if they would or would not procure the necessary documents for them. The former President and his legal team requested that their answer, that the court would procure the documents, be provided in writing. The former President's legal team stated that they intended to appeal the verdict at the High Court, on the basis that they had not received the documents requested.
"The presiding judge had said that the documents would be provided during the course of the legal proceedings. However, even at the end of the case, the Honourable Judge would know, we never received any documents. We were unable to prepare a proper defence. The verdict did not consider these aspects," Yameen said.
He requested the court to indicate if they would or would not procure the necessary documents for them. The former President and his legal team requested that their answer, that the court would procure the documents, be provided in writing. The former President's legal team stated that they intended to appeal the verdict at the High Court, on the basis that they had not received the documents requested.