Ex-President Yameen charged with money laundering

Former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has been formally charged with money laundering.

Former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has been formally charged with money laundering.

Yameen came under fire after investigators discovered after large sums of embezzled funds from the State were transferred to an Islamic Bank of Maldives bank account opened under his name. Yameen is accused of laundering the money and providing false testimony to the investigators of the case.

The case was forwarded by Maldives Police Service to the Prosecutor General’s Office for charges on January 6.

The Prosecutor General’s Office announced via its official Twitter that Yameen has been formally charged with money laundering and the case has been submitted to the Criminal Court.

މއ. ކާމިނީހުޅަގުގެ، ޢަބްދުﷲ ޔާމީން ޢަބްދުލްޤައްޔޫމްގެ މައްޗަށް މަނީ ލޯންޑަރިންގ ގެ ދަޢުވާ އުފުލައި ކްރިމިނަލް ކޯޓަށް ހުށަހަޅައިފިން@sunbrk @avasmv @VaguthuOnline @Mihaarunews @raajjemv @PSMnewsmv @VTVvmedia @tvmaldives @cnm_mv @Sangu_tv @Ch13official @Raajje_tv

— PGOMV (@PGO_MV) February 13, 2019

“Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom of Ma. Kameenee Hulhangugey has been charged with money laundering and the charge against him filed with the Criminal Court,” announced the Prosecutor General’s Office on Twitter.

In a statement on January 6, MPS said the agency, during its investigation into the MMPRC embezzlement case, followed up on evidence a private company registered as SOF Private Limited transferred USD 1 million to Yameen’s account.

The agency said Yameen was informed the money was embezzled from the State and instructed to return the money to the State. It said he refused to return the money, and that investigators found he generated profit through financial transactions by utilizing the USD 1 million in his account.

MPS also asked the Prosecutor General’s Office to press charges against Yameen’s attorney, Aishath Azima Shakoor, who has been accused of aiding and abetting the money laundering scam and proving false testimony to State authorities.

Prosecutor General’s Office is yet to announce its decision on formal charges against Azima.