Former Maldivian president Abdullah Yameen, whose conviction in a money laundering case was recently quashed by the top court, has been planning to leave the country, the Maldivian government alleged in a court, seeking a ban on his foreign travel as he faces other pending corruption cases.  

The police have collected evidence that Yameen has been planning to leave the country, a state prosecutor told a criminal court on Monday, reported Sun news. Earlier, the court had ordered a ban on his foreign for a week. However, the government has now sought a longer ban. 

In 2019, Yameen, who was the archipelago’s president between 2013 to 2018, was convicted by a criminal court in a money laundering case. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison. A high court later upheld the conviction only t0 be quashed by the Supreme Court last week. 

Despite his conviction, he was kept under house arrest since last year because of the Covid-19. He was released last week following the apex court’s ruling. As Yameen returns to active politics, the ruling coalition, led by President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih and former president Mohammed Nasheed, fear losing further ground.

Significantly, Yameen’s party swept the Male municipality elections this year. A few months back, leaked tapes of some of the judges, who convicted Yameen, suggested his trial was influenced by the Office of President. 

Experts say that the leaked tapes and acquittal by the Supreme Court have not only increased sympathy for Yameen but also damaged the credibility of the current government to a great extent. Now if the government decides to go hard on him, many within the government fear it would only benefit him politically. 

(SAM)