Maldives' Opposition Leader Abdulla Yameen Appeals 11-Year Prison Sentence

Former Maldivian President and opposition presidential candidate Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom's case has been appealed at the High Court of the Maldives. The case was appealed on Monday, February 21st, 2023, following his sentencing to 11 years in prison on charges of bribery and money laundering.

President Yameen was found guilty of accepting a bribe and laundering money, for which he was sentenced to five and four years in prison, respectively. However, the opposition People's Progressive Party (PPM), to which Yameen belongs, rejected the court's decision to jail him.

The judge who presided over the case did not provide any details on how the verdict was derived but stated that the former president was guilty of both charges. The verdict was also allegedly prepared by Misbah, another judge at the criminal court, and shared with senior government officials last week.

Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom is the brother of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled the Maldives for 30 years before being ousted in 2008. Yameen served as the Maldives' president from 2013 to 2018, and he is considered a prominent figure in the Maldives' political landscape.

It is unclear what the outcome of the appeal will be and how it will affect the upcoming presidential elections in the Maldives. However, the appeal process will likely be closely watched by Maldivians and the international community, as the case against President Yameen has been a controversial issue in the country.