Today’s hearing in the two counts of embezzlement against former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom in the transaction through the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) to lease Raa Atoll Fuggiri for resort development, has concluded after the judge orders the former President’s attorneys to be allowed to meet their client in private.

During the hearing, President Yameen and his legal team had repeatedly noted that they were not allowed to meet and that access to legal documents was not provided.

Speaking during the hearing through video conference, President Yameen said that he had not received any documentation regarding the charges being pressed against him and that it was difficult to present a defense or say anything regarding the charges without seeing said documents.

He highlighted that even though these documents have been handed over to his legal team by the state, he has not been able to see them since he has not been able to meet his legal team for over a month.

In response to this, the prosecution stated that as per Maldives Correctional Services, the legal team had requested to meet President Yameen between July 28th and August 15th only once. The request came for August 4th. They stressed that all relevant documents regarding this had been handed over to the legal team.

President Yameen's attorney, Dr. Mohamed Jameel said that the trial cannot move forward without the additional documents that the prosecution had mentioned and added that they refuse to move forward without receiving those documents.

During the hearing, the judge presiding over the case had ordered the former President’s attorneys to be allowed to meet their client in private before concluding the hearing for the day.

A hearing of the case will be scheduled within 10-15 days after President Yameen is permitted to meet with his attorneys.