Former President of the Maldives, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, has received the pending presidential benefits for the period of his detention.
As per the Former Presidents Protection and Benefits Act, any former president who served a term in office will receive a monthly allowance of MVR 50,000, while any former president who served two terms in office will receive a monthly allowance of MVR 75,000. In addition, they will also receive allowances to cover their accommodation and administrative expenses and medical purposes.
President Yameen received allowances and security until he was incarcerated on a money laundering conviction in November 2019. He was stripped of the benefits as Article 10 of the Act states that the state must withdraw benefits for former presidents and their spouses if convicted and jailed for a criminal offense committed during his presidency.
However, the Supreme Court overturned the money laundering conviction against Yameen. While he has now been declared not guilty of any criminal offenses, he is entitled to state benefits. President Yameen officially requested the Finance Ministry to transfer the funds in December.
Communications Director at the Finance Ministry, Lamaan Waheed, told AVAS that the funds had been deposited into President Yameen's account. He said that President Yameen did not wish to take the funds for administrative expenses. The remaining benefits for the period of detention add up to approximately MVR 2.5 million.
In addition to the benefits for the detained period, the monthly benefit for the month of December was also deposited into his account, Lamaan said.
