Maldives High Court overturns conviction of opposition leader News
© WikiMedia (Shahee Ilyas)
Maldives High Court overturns conviction of opposition leader

The High Court of Maldives overturned a bribery conviction against opposition leader Qasim Ibrahim on Monday. The charge was overturned due to procedural violations by the Criminal Court.

Ibrahim was accused of bribing lawmakers in order to support a no-faith motion against the parliamentary speaker. The trial was accused of violating due process violations and being politically motivated. Ibrahim was sentenced to three years in prison by the Criminal Court.

Ibrahim was one of many opposition supporters who were jailed during President Abdulla Yameen’s rule. Yameen’s half brother was recently released from prison by the courts. Former Vice President Mohamed Jameel Ahmed also recently returned to the country from exile.

The Supreme Court of Maldives also overturned a prison sentence earlier this month against the former president of Maldives citing incorrect trial procedures. In February Yameen had declared a state of emergency after the Supreme Court overturned the convictions of former president Mohamed Nasheed and several other opposition leaders. The Supreme Court of the Maldives rejected a petition by Yameen on Sunday to annul the results of the September 23 presidential election that he lost.

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