President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said there is nothing he can do to free jailed former President Abdulla Yameen.
Speaking at a campaign event at AA. Rasdhoo, President Solih acknowledged that President Yameen's imprisonment is a matter of concern to him just as it is to the opposition. However, as Yameen's trial is an ongoing trial, he remains committed to refraining from any interference that could influence the judicial process, he said.
"I don't have the power to decide on it while legal proceedings are underway. Once all the judicial stages are concluded, I will then be able to explore options within the bounds of the legal framework," he said.
The President pointed out that a previous instance saw President Yameen receiving a five-year prison sentence, which was subsequently overturned by the Supreme Court. Even then, he had abstained from exerting any influence on the judiciary's decisions, he said.
President Solih has openly addressed calls for President Yameen's release during his campaign tours across the atolls. Reiterating his willingness to engage with concerns and demands for Yameen's freedom, he emphasized that Yameen's release cannot be facilitated under the Prisons and Parole Act until all stages of his trial are completed.
President Yameen recently asked the High Court to postpone the execution of his 11-year jail sentence. However, the High Court ruled that the sentence could not be postponed.
