Fuggiri case: No one is in the same situation as Yameen, says the State

Stating that injustice would mean failing to treat two individuals in the exact same situation equally, the State has informed the Criminal Court that no one else is in the same legal situation as former President Abdulla Yameen regarding the charges brought against him.

Public Prosecutor Ahmed Shafiu made these remarks during today's hearing of the trial against President Yameen, who faces charges of bribery and money laundering in connection with the leasing of R. Fuggiri. He was responding to repeated claims by Yameen's legal team that he is being subjected to differential treatment.

The state counsel noted that all other individuals accused in connection with the Fuggiri corruption scandal have been cleared, leaving President Yameen's case as the sole matter currently proceeding through trial.

Corruption allegations were initially leveled against six parties in the Fuggiri case, with the State proceeding to prosecute two individuals and two companies. These included charges of acting as a mediator in bribery and money laundering against Ahmed Krik Riza, alongside money laundering charges against Sun Construction and Sun Investment.

However, the State subsequently withdrew the charges against Riza. Furthermore, after the lower court ruled that the charges against the Sun companies were not proven, the State chose not to appeal the decision in the High Court and dropped the matter. Consequently, the case involving President Yameen is the only prosecution from these proceedings that the State has maintained.

Today's scheduled hearing in President Yameen's trial was dedicated to the delivery of closing arguments.