President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has responded to a letter from PNC President Abdul Raheem Abdulla over the jail sentence of former President Abdulla Yameen.
President Yameen is currently serving a five-year sentence on a money laundering and bribery conviction. The opposition PPM-PNC coalition recently sent a letter to President Solih requesting a meeting, claiming that President Yameen was arrested and tortured by President Solih and that President Solih compromised the Maldives' territorial integrity by selling off portions of its sea area and land, thereby jeopardizing its independence. The letter further criticized President Solih, accusing him of remaining in the shadows while bringing the Parliament to a standstill.
In his response to the request, President Solih urged the opposition coalition to approach the relevant authorities if they have any evidence of torture or wrongdoing. The letter, signed by Chief of Staff Ali Zahir on behalf of the president, pointed out that President Yameen's current sentence was handed down by a court of law and that President Solih has no connection to it. It further dismissed the allegations made by Abdul Raheem, emphasizing that President Solih has not engaged in any harming or violation.
The President's Office stated in the letter that it would be inappropriate for President Solih to intervene in the matter while President Yameen is undergoing the appeal process and serving his judicial sentence
"The President believes that Abdul Raheem would also agree that it is not appropriate for the President to interfere in such a matter while he [President Yameen] is serving a judicial sentence and the appeal process is underway," the President's Office said in the letter.
