What's happened
A Maldives court has overturned former President Abdulla Yameen's 11-year prison sentence for corruption and money laundering, citing procedural irregularities. The ruling, just before parliamentary elections, is seen as a potential boost to President Mohamed Muizzu's party, with Yameen now facing a retrial.
Why it matters
The court's decision to overturn Yameen's conviction and order a retrial has immediate implications for the political landscape in the Maldives, especially ahead of the parliamentary elections. It raises questions about the fairness of the judicial process and could impact the balance of power in the country.
What the papers say
The Independent highlights the potential boost to President Muizzu's party following the court's decision, while Al Jazeera focuses on the unfairness of Yameen's trial and the order for a new trial. South China Morning Post emphasizes the timing of the ruling before the elections and the political affiliations of Yameen and Muizzu.
How we got here
Abdulla Yameen was convicted in 2022 on corruption charges related to receiving kickbacks from a private company during his presidency. The court's decision to overturn his conviction raises concerns about the judicial process and the potential impact on the upcoming parliamentary elections.
More on these topics
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The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is a small island nation in South Asia, situated in the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 700 kilometres from the Asian continent's mainland. The chain of 26
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Mohamed Muizzu is a Maldivian politician who is currently serving as president of the Maldives since 17 November 2023. He was selected for his party's nomination after former president Abdulla Yameen was jailed for serious corruption charges.