Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, currently under house arrest for an 11-year jail term, once again defied warnings from the Maldives Correctional Services (MCS) regarding the conditions of his transfer. Yameen, convicted of money laundering and bribery, received leniencies for medical reasons, subject to specific conditions.
Yameen on Sunday defied the correction department’s warnings and visited his newly formed People’s National Front (PNF) office to submit his registration as a member of the party. His application was celebrated with an informal ceremony, with photographs of the event publicised on social media.
Following the event, MCS said on Monday that it was investiagting the former president’s continued political engagements to see if he had breached the terms of his house arrest.
Previously, the corrections department investigated Yameen for breaching house arrest terms. After being transferred to house arrest, Yameen visited the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) office, conducting rallies and meetings, which ceased following MCS warnings.
Yameen recently left PPM due to internal disagreements and founded the People’s National Front (PNF). He actively participated in PNF’s formation and membership drive at its new headquarters in H. Hurafa. Social media images of Yameen with senior lawyer Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed at the PNF office highlighted his continued political involvement.
MCS earlier commented on the severity of the issue, stating that it would take action against Yameen if necessary. Under the Prisons and Parole Act, convicts are restricted from holding leadership positions in political parties and participating in political events while serving their sentences, though they can remain general members. Yameen’s recent actions directly contravene these regulations.
Meanwhile, the PPM and People’s National Congress (PNC) coalition has refused to comment on the continued delays in Yameen’s appeal. After leaving PPM, Yameen founded PNF. President Muizzu, appointed as the PPM-PNC coalition leader, has avoided responding to questions about Yameen’s legal situation, stating such matters would be resolved within legal boundaries without coercion. During his presidential campaign, Muizzu pledged to transfer Yameen to house arrest, which occurred following his election victory.