Former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen sentenced to 11 years in prison for money laundering and bribery

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The Maldives criminal court on 25th December sentenced former president Abdulla Yameen to 11 years in jail and fined him $5 million after he was found guilty of money laundering and accepting bribe.

Important facts

• The court found Yameen guilty of accepting money to lease an island owned by the government.
• The court sentenced the former leader to seven years in the money laundering case and four years in the bribery case.
• Yameen was accused that he had given permission to develop a resort on V Ara's land by taking money during his tenure.
• Yameen was accused of misusing his position to get the Ara's land to ex-parliamentarian Yusuf Nai by taking US $ 1 million.
• Yameen was also fined US $ 5 million in this case.
• According to the court's decision, Yameen will have to deposit the fine amount to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within six months.

About Maldives

• It is also called Maldive Islands, an independent island country in the north-central Indian Ocean.
• It extends more than 510 miles (820 km) from north to south and 80 miles (130 km) from east to west.
• Basis of economy - fisheries, tourism
• Industries - handicraft or cottage including the making of coir (coconut-husk fibre) and coir products, fish canning, and boatbuilding.
• Capital - Male
• President - Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
• Official Language - Dhivehi (Maldivian)
• Official Religion - Islam
• Currency - Rufiyaa