The Supreme Court has scheduled its ruling for 1 July in a state appeal related to former President Abdulla Yameen’s Aarah lease case.

The case concerns a High Court decision that overturned Yameen’s 11-year prison sentence and ordered a retrial. The state is seeking to reverse part of that ruling, which instructed that no new evidence be admitted against Yameen during the retrial.

The verdict is set to be delivered at 9:00 a.m. on 1 July. Hearings in the appeal concluded on 29 September 2025.

In December 2022, the Criminal Court found Yameen guilty of bribery and money laundering linked to the lease of Aarah in Vaavu Atoll. Businessman Yusuf Naeem was also convicted of bribery in the same case.

However, in April 2024, the High Court overturned the convictions and sent the case back to the Criminal Court for reconsideration in line with legal procedures.

The state argues that the High Court’s instruction regarding evidence is inconsistent with Article 143 of the Constitution, which outlines the powers and jurisdiction of the courts.