Criminal Court of the Maldives has scheduled a hearing for 28th November in former President Yameen’s money laundering case. The court will issue a verdict in the case in this hearing.

Previously a hearing was scheduled for 5th November, but the Judicial Service Commission suspended the judge presiding over the case just few hours before the hearing began. After that the JSC appointed Judge Ali Rasheed to preside over the case. However President Yameen requested to form a bench to preside over the case and the judge decided to form a bench.

The bench consists of Justice Ali Rasheed Hussain, Justice Ahmed Shakeel, Justice Mohammed Sameer, Justice Ali Adham and Justice Hussein Faiz Rashad. 

In today’s hearing President Yameen’s lawyers requested for a retrial. However, the bench decided not to give a retrial saying that it will be inconvenient to do so as the witness statements has also been taken in the case. 

In addition, in today’s hearing President Yameen requested Justice Ali Rasheed to abstain from the case as a case against him is lodged at the Judicial Service Commission. However the bench decided that there is no legit reason for him to abstain from the case. 

President Yameen is being charged with money laundering and if convicted he faces up to 15 years in prison.