The High Court delivered a landmark decision on Thursday, unanimously overturning the bribery conviction of former Felidhoo constituency parliament member Yoosuf Naeem in the lease of Vaavu atoll Aarah.

Previously, Naeem was found guilty of bribery in connection with former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's involvement in the case.

The Criminal Court had sentenced Naeem to three years, two months, and 12 days in prison on December 25th, 2022, citing his role in the Aarah lease deal and a purported one million dollar bribe to Former President Yameen.

Following the conclusion of the appeal hearing in the High Court, the three-judge bench identified several critical errors in the case.

Consequently, they ordered the Criminal Court to reopen the proceedings, aligning with the points raised by Naeem's defense team.

Notably, the verdict highlighted ambiguities regarding the definition of bribery under the Penal Code and the official capacity of the President in lease agreements.

It questioned whether Naeem could have reasonably known that the payment to Yameen constituted an unauthorized benefit.

Furthermore, the High Court criticized the admission of new evidence by the lower court, citing procedural irregularities and the lack of valid reasons for its inclusion.

The verdict underscored the importance of fair trial procedures and adequate time for deliberation before sentencing.

Ultimately, the High Court deemed Naeem's sentence unlawful and ordered a retrial, emphasizing the need for a thorough examination of all aspects of the case.

The bench, comprising Justices Hassan Shafeeu, Huzaifa Mohamed, and Mohamed Saleem, delivered the verdict, with Justice Shafeeu presiding.

Following the announcement, the court recessed for 30 minutes and is scheduled to reconvene at 16:00hrs.