The former Governor of the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), Azeema Adam, has failed to appear at the courthouse as a defence witnesses at the money laundering trial against the former President, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, currently ongoing at the Criminal Court.

Opening today’s hearing, presiding judge, the Chief Judge of the Criminal Court, Ahmed Hailam said that the defence witness, Azeema Adam, set to appear at the court today has sent a letter.

And the letter informs that she cannot appear in court at the time of the summon order and with no testimony to offer to the case, she has raised an objection to appearing at the court.

After that, the attorneys for the defence were allowed to address the letter where the defence lawyer, Ali Shah said that the accused has presented witnesses and asked the judge to make a decision on the matter. He said that he believes the decision of the court would be fair.

Hence, the Chief Judge Hailam decided that as Azeema is working abroad and has said that she has no testimony to offer to the court, she will no longer be summoned as a defence witness.

During the Presidency of Abdulla Yameen, Azeema was appointed as the Governor of MMA on 14 April 2014 before she resigned from the position in August 2017.

The hearing at the Criminal Court today is set to present evidence documents by the prosecution.