Ex President Abdullah Yaameen who is being charged with Money Laundering is unable to meet his lawyers, to which the legal team has raised their concern.
A statement issued by Yameen’s legal team has informed that Maldives Correctional Service has not allowed them to meet their client to provide legal advice since March. However Maldives Correctional Service states the reason for the disallowance is merely due to the current Covid-19 situation in the country.
With the leniency in lockdown policy in the country and the trail already having started, Maldives Correctional Service is continuing to neglect the former President from his right to contact his attorney, according to the statement.
The statement also informs that the hearing regarding the resignation of Yaameen from office which took place in High Court of the Republic of Maldives commenced without the former President contacting his legal team. The hearing concluded with the state announcing that arrangements for a direct meeting with Yaameen’s legal team will be made prior to the next hearing. Maldives Correctional Service has also previously informed via letter that Yameen would be allowed to contact his lawyers.
However, Yaameen’s legal team was denied a meeting with their client even after issuing the letter to Maldives Correctional Service, on July 14th.
The statement released by Abdullah Yaameen’s legal team has publicly asked Maldives Correctional services to arrange a meeting with their client and to refrain from neglecting the former President from his right to an attorney.
The legal team has also raised concerns on Yaameen being unable to have access to any form of news media.
Abdullah Yaameen Abdull Gayoom was convicted with money laundering on November 2019, after an account having access to the MMPRC scandal money transferred one million dollars to his account.
