The attorneys of the former President, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, currently on trial for money laundering, has made a request at the Criminal Court to delay the sentencing in the trial.

The request has been made while the sentencing hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. today.

President Yameen’s legal team said that the request was made since they have filed suit both at the Criminal Court and Supreme Court regarding procedural issues of the case.

The legal team said that there has been no response to the request from the Criminal Court so far.

The former President’s legal team has been raising complaints since the initial judge presiding on the case, Chief Judge of the Criminal Court, Ahmed Hailam, was suspended and replaced by Judge Ali Rasheed.

They have repeatedly said that Judge Ali Rasheed has a personal issue with the former President and has a disciplinary case against him.

The former Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, from President Yameen’s legal team, said that a suit was filed at the Supreme Court because the bench presiding on the trial at the Criminal Court is now set up outside the Courts Act.

Dr. Jameel said that the bench presiding on the trial has to be formed by a forum of judges according to the Courts Act however, the bench presiding on President Yameen’s case was formed by the Acting Chief Judge, Ali Rasheed.

He also said that after forming the bench on his own, Judge Ali Rasheed has made himself part of the said bench and that is illegal as well.