Aarah Case: Defense calls to dismiss Adeeb and Ziyath’s testimonies

Defense attorneys have requested the court to dismiss the testimonies of former Vice President Ahmed Adheeb and former Managing Director of Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), in the Aarah case against former President, President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Qayyoom, since they do not qualify as just witnesses as per the rules set by Islamic Shariah.

In the V. Aarah lease case, President Yameen was charged with money laundering, accepting a bribe of USD 1 million to facilitate the sale of Aarah to former MP Yoosuf Naeem. These two cases are being tried together in court.

The court held discussions regarding the submitted evidence and the defense for President Yameen requested that Adheeb and Ziyath’s testimonies against the former President be dismissed.

Defense attorney Adam Shareef stated that Adeeb and Ziyath were known traitors and therefore, Islamic Shariah dictates it should not be accepted in a court of law. Moreover, while no evidence had been submitted to support their testimonies, much like the previous instance where their testimonies were dismissed without evidence to support their statements, it must be dismissed now as well.

The defense stated that in addition to being traitors, both the parties were known adversaries of their client, President Yameen.

While President Yameen was previously released through the Supreme Court hearings in this case, Supreme Court dismissed Adheeb and Ziyath’s testimonies during that trial.