Maldives’ ex-president Yameen guilty of graft

The criminal court of Maldives yesterday found the country's former president Abdulla Yameen guilty on corruption and money laundering charges related to receiving kickbacks from a private company. The court said it expects to announce the sentence soon. Yameen has denied any wrongdoing. Yameen, who lost power in 2018, was sentenced to five years in jail and fined $5 million in 2019 for embezzling $1 million in state funds, which the prosecution said was acquired through the lease of resort development rights. Yameen is the declared presidential candidate for the Progressive Party of the Maldives for an election due in 2023.