Former Maldives president Abdulla Yameen will attraction as quickly as doable in opposition to his conviction and jailing for 11 years on corruption and cash laundering prices, mentioned his lawyer.
Yameen, the opposition Progressive Occasion of Maldives (PPM) candidate for the subsequent election due in 2023, was despatched to a jail on Maafushi island on Sunday to begin his sentence following the order from the Maldives prison court docket.
Yameen, 63, has denied any wrongdoing and can serve his time in a particular compound within the jail which has been beforehand used to jail different excessive profile politicians.
Former Maldives vice chairman Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, who’s main Yameen’s authorized crew, mentioned they’ll attraction in opposition to the prison court docket’s verdict immediately.
“It is fairly absurd that the court docket has issued a verdict of responsible with out producing its judgment or case report,” Jameel mentioned, including that the defence was but to be supplied with a full written judgement.
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“Our concern is that severe breach of equity has already taken place resulting from delay of judgment copy as defence is paralysed from submitting attraction which is a basic proper underneath Article 56 of our structure.”
The PPM protested in opposition to Yameen’s conviction on Sunday, with police arresting 16 individuals earlier than releasing them later, the get together mentioned. PPM officers instructed native media that the get together will proceed its protests.
“We reiterate our perception that this trial and verdict is a political witch-hunt in opposition to our presidential candidate… and name for his speedy and unconditional launch,” the PPM mentioned in an announcement.
Yameen, who misplaced energy in 2018, will stay the get together’s presidential candidate for the 2023 election, it mentioned.
Located near strategic transport lanes within the Indian Ocean, Maldives is a focus for competitors between India and China over affect within the area.
The PPM additionally alleged that India had “straight interfered” with the judicial course of throughout the trial of Yameen. India’s overseas ministry didn’t reply to a request for remark.
