High Court Postpones US$5M Fine for Yameen, Jail Term Stands

The Maldivian High Court has granted former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's request to postpone a US$5 million fine but refused to defer his 11-year jail sentence. The three-judge bench cited a Supreme Court precedent that criminal case judgments cannot be postponed. Yameen is serving time for bribery and money laundering related to the lease of Aarah in Vaavu Atoll. His legal team had sought deferral of both the fine and sentence, but the prosecution argued there are no legal provisions for stay orders on criminal sentences. Yameen's team then pursued a civil stay order application.

The Maldivian High Court has granted former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's request to postpone a US$5 million fine but refused to defer his 11-year jail sentence. The three-judge bench cited a Supreme Court precedent that criminal case judgments cannot be postponed. Yameen is serving time for bribery and money laundering related to the lease of Aarah in Vaavu Atoll. His legal team had sought deferral of both the fine and sentence, but the prosecution argued there are no legal provisions for stay orders on criminal sentences. Yameen's team then pursued a civil stay order application.

The Maldivian High Court has granted former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's request to postpone a US$5 million fine but refused to defer his 11-year jail sentence. The three-judge bench cited a Supreme Court precedent that criminal case judgments cannot be postponed. Yameen is serving time for bribery and money laundering related to the lease of Aarah in Vaavu Atoll. His legal team had sought deferral of both the fine and sentence, but the prosecution argued there are no legal provisions for stay orders on criminal sentences. Yameen's team then pursued a civil stay order application.

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