High Court has concluded appeal hearings in the case regarding the decision to freeze the bank accounts of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
The last hearing held by the High Court in connection with the case was a closed hearing. The court cited possible obstruction of justice as the reason behind conducting a closed hearing. However, the court confirmed the former president testified at the hearing.
The former president's accounts were frozen as per an order issued by a lower court upon request by Maldives Police Service. The police accused, during the past five years, massive sums of money were deposited to the bank accounts of the former president. The frozen accounts are believed to have amounts to the tune of around USD 6.5 million.
Former President Yameen has also appealed at the High Court, the warrant issued for his arrest by the Criminal Court, which requires him to be incarcerated for the duration of his trial.
SOF Private Limited, the alleged fronting business used to launder money from Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) deposited USD 1 million to the accounts of former President Yameen.
Although, Yameen was instructed to repay the amount, he confessed the amounts deposited to the escrow account were not from the said funds he received from SOF.
In an extensive investigation into the money laundering accusations it was revealed the former president received over USD 1.4 million during the presidential campaign alone as funds deposited to his bank accounts. Yameen is also being charged for providing false information to mislead an investigation.
His lawyer and former Legal Affairs Minister at the President's Office Aishath Aazima Shakoor also faces similar charges.