Former Tourism Minister Moosa Zameer testified in court that he deposited US$ 1 million into former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom's bank account on his request.
Speaking under oath at the fourth hearing of President Yameen's money laundering trial, Zameer said he was not aware of why the former president needed the funds.
President Yameen is accused of defying the agreement between himself and ACC, which stipulated the former president to move funds in his Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB) account that are suspected of having being laundered, into an escrow account set up between the two parties.
While two cheques worth US$ 1 million were deposited into Yameen's MIB account by a private company named SOF Pvt Ltd, the funds are said to be embezzled state funds that were to be received by Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Company (MMPRC) as acquisition cost for leasing islands for tourism purpose.
ACC instructed Yameen to move the deposited funds to the escrow account, however, President Yameen transferred US$ 1 million from his Bank of Maldives (BML) account instead of from the account in question. The transferred funds are reported to have been deposited into President Yameen's BML account by former Tourism Minister Moosa Zameer.
Yameen is accused of attempting to cover up the source and trail of the original funds in his MIB account in an attempt to launder the funds. The original funds deposited by SOF Pvt Ltd were moved to President Yameen's investment account at Maldives Islamic Bank. If the money laundering charge against Yameen is proven, he will receive a sentence of 5-15 years in prison.
Entering the court room, Zameer acknowledged Yameen's presence with a wave of his hand. After taking the witness stand, Zameer was first questioned by the state. Zameer confirmed that he deposited US$ 1 million into President Yameen's accounts, clarifying that he received the funds through a sale of his own property.
When asked if he was aware of why the president needed the funds, the former minister said he was not informed of the reason, but believed it to be for personal use.
The State inquired if the president had called him at any point over delays in receiving the funds. Zameer said while there were some delays in obtaining the funds, the president did not call him seeking information on the pending deposit. However, Legal Affairs Minister of the President's Office at the time Azima Shakoor communicated with him and requested to expedite the deposit, revealed Zameer.
The defense did not cross examine the witness, stating that the witness was not in any way related to the case in question.
Zameer was the deputy leader of Yameen's Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) when the police first summoned President Yameen for questioning over the money laundering case. While Zameer was also questioned by the police, Zameer resigned from the party soon afterwards and left the political arena.
The next state witness who gave testimony during Tuesday's hearing was an individual named Mohmed Waseem Ismail. An acquaintance of Zameer, Waseem informed he bought a property owned by Zameer for US$ 2 million. An initial payment of US$ 1.75 million was paid to Zameer, said Waseem.
Waseem further said he sought the assistance of Zameer following the transaction due to cash-flow issues. While Zamer loaned him US$ 15 million, the loan was given to him in cash, said Waseem. The defensw did not cross examine the witness.
Deputy CEO of Bank of Maldives Mohamed Shareef also gave his witness statement during Tuesday's hearing. Shareef, who is board director at BML, said former ACC president Hasan Luthufee contacted him via phone to clarify the procedures and policies followed in setting up escrow accounts. Shareef said while the relevant department worked with ACC to set up the account, he was not involved in the process.
After the account was opened, then CEO of BML Andrew Healy met with Shareef and informed him that the newly opened escrow account was set up between ACC and President Yameen. He had not been aware that the account was linked to President Yameen prior to that, said Shareef. He was later appointed as a point of contact after the president expressed his wish to deposit funds into the account.
After the funds were deposited into the account, then Legal Affairs Minister Azima Shakoor met him at the President's Office and requested to issue a document confirming that the escrow account had been set up. While the request was made on the President's behalf, a letter stating as such was drafted, said Shareef.
A second board director of BMML and a state minister of the President's Office during President Yameen's tenure, Ibrahim Luvaiz took the witness stand after Shareef. In his witness testimony, Luvaiz said he was informed by Azima that the president wished to set up an escrow account and deposit funds. While the request was relayed to BML's CEO and Deputy CEO, he informed Azima to communicate with them to proceed with setting up the account. He was not given any further information on the account or the funds that were deposited into it, said Luvaiz.
While the witness statements of all but one witness named by the state has been recorded, the remaining witness is refusing to testify against the former president. Alleging that he is being threaten to give his testimony in a certain manner, former ACC head Hassan Luthufee has informed the Criminal Court that he would not testify in court. Hassan Latheef currently resides in Malaysia.
The presiding judge Ahmed Hailam inquired from the State if Luthufee can be summoned to give his testimony, In response, State attorney Aishath Mohamed said the state had attempted on multiple occasions to summon Lutufee, and noted that he has refused to summon himself to the Maldivian embassy in Malaysia, where he could have given his testimony. A witness cannot be forced to summon himself to court and testify, said the attorney.
Therefore, the state requested the judge to consider the statement given by Luthufee during investigation, and asked to allow arrangements so that the audio visual recording of his statement can be played back in the court room. While Luthufee has alleged that he gave his statement under duress, the video would show that he was under no pressure when he gave his statement, said the state attorney. She added that the individual's body language would give it away if he was being threatened.
The defendant himself then objected to playing the video statement stating that body language would show if a person is being threatened or not, only in the event that the person being threatened was giving his statement against the people threatening him.
While the defense attorneys also objected to playing the video, they pointed out that while the video had not been submitted as evidence, Luthufee has retracted his previous statement in the letter he sent to Criminal Court. Therefore, the defense does not believe the video statement can be taken into consideration.
The state attorney responded that the video was not submitted as evidence as it was not previously foreseen that Luthufee would refuse to testify against President Yameen. However, watching the video statement and considering it is of utmost importance under the current circumstance, even if it is considered a weak evidence, said the state attorney. The attorney explained that Luthufee's statement corroborated the witness testimony of the current ACC Head Muawwiz Rasheed and the report prepared by ACC on the case.
Concluding Tuesday's hearing, Judge Hailam said he would make a decision on whether to allow the video statement to be played, during the next hearing. While President Yameen's sole defense witness, former MMA Governor Azeema Adam will give her witness statement during the next hearing, both the prosecution and defense will then present their closing statements and a verdict will be reached in the following hearings.
While the defense attorneys also objected to playing the video, they pointed out that while the video had not been submitted as evidence, Luthufee has retracted his previous statement in the letter he sent to Criminal Court. Therefore, the defense does not believe the video statement can be taken into consideration.
The state attorney responded that the video was not submitted as evidence as it was not previously foreseen that Luthufee would refuse to testify against President Yameen. However, watching the video statement and considering it is of utmost importance under the current circumstance, even if it is considered a weak evidence, said the state attorney. The attorney explained that Luthufee's statement corroborated the witness testimony of the current ACC Head Muawwiz Rasheed and the report prepared by ACC on the case.
Concluding Tuesday's hearing, Judge Hailam said he would make a decision on whether to allow the video statement to be played, during the next hearing. While President Yameen's sole defense witness, former MMA Governor Azeema Adam will give her witness statement during the next hearing, both the prosecution and defense will then present their closing statements and a verdict will be reached in the following hearings.
