In a significant development, the High Court has overturned the four-year prison sentence imposed on former Maldivian President Yameen Abdul Gayoom for bribery. This decision comes as part of a larger legal battle following his conviction by the Criminal Court, where he was sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison for bribery and money laundering.

Former President Yameen Abdul Gayoom had been convicted of accepting bribes and money laundering in connection with the lease transaction of V. Aarah island. The Criminal Court had handed down seven years for money laundering and an additional four years for bribery, leading to the 11-year sentence.

Following the initial verdict, Yameen's legal team appealed the decision in the High Court. Today, the High Court ruled in favor of quashing the lower court's judgment, citing procedural irregularities and the improper handling of evidence.

In its ruling, the High Court highlighted that the Criminal Court had erred in accepting new evidence from the prosecution while disregarding the defense's evidence. Such actions, the High Court emphasized, must be justified by exceptional circumstances, which were not adequately demonstrated in this case. Additionally, Yameen's lawyers were not afforded the opportunity to address the matter before the court's decision.

Consequently, the High Court has referred the case back to the Criminal Court for reconsideration, acknowledging the potential for changes in the evidence presented. Moreover, the High Court is expected to announce its decision later today regarding Yameen's seven-year sentence for money laundering.

The overturning of Yameen's four-year sentence marks a significant turn in the legal proceedings against the former president.