Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's trial has begun today after the part of Ahmed Riza, who was charged in connection with the R. Fuggiri lease deal through MMPRC, was dropped.

President Yameen has been charged with bribery and money laundering in the Fuggiri case while Riza is facing charges of being a middleman in bribery and money laundering. In addition to this, Sun Construction and Sun Investment have been charged with money laundering as well.

The hearings in the case were earlier conducted together.

However, the case has not been heard since last month as Riza is unwell. Due to the prolonged delays that arose from his health, the Prosecutor General's Office requested the court to withdraw Riza's part.

During the court hearing ongoing today, Judge Ali Nadeem said that as requested by the state, the next hearings in the case will not include the case of Riza.

Today's hearing will also be focused on collecting witness statements. As such, Maafannu Central MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde) is currently giving his witness testimony.

The then Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb had earlier testified in the Criminal Court that Ibrahim Rasheed had participated in the lease negotiations for Fuggiri Classic City Island Holdings Limited. Bonde, however, denied the allegations.