Former Maldives president Abdulla Yameen walks free after corruption conviction overturned
- The Supreme Court overturned a money-laundering and embezzlement conviction, allowing him to potentially make a return to politics
- Yameen, who served as president from 2013 to 2018, is best known for drawing the country closer to China, invoking the ire of traditional ally India
Yameen was sentenced to five years in jail and fined US$5 million in 2019 for embezzling US$1 million in state funds, allegedly acquired through the lease of resort development rights, and laundering the proceeds. Because of Covid-19, his jail term was shifted to house arrest.
After an appeal by Yameen, a three-member Supreme Court bench ruled on Tuesday there was insufficient evidence in the original case.
Two previous appeals at lower courts had been rejected.
Hundreds of supporters of Yameen’s Progressive Party of Maldives gathered outside his residence in the capital Male after the verdict was announced.
The overturning of the verdict is a key moment in the Maldives’ often-turbulent politics, as Yameen is now free to conduct political activities and even contest the next presidential election.
