The Supreme Court has upheld the High Court's decision not to accept new evidence submitted by the State in its appeal against the acquittal of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom in the Vaavu Aarah case.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Shujune Muhammad said the State's submissions relating to Section 135 of the Criminal Procedure Act had not been raised before the High Court and therefore could not be introduced for the first time at the Supreme Court stage. She said the prosecution had also failed to demonstrate any exceptional circumstances that would justify the court considering the new evidences.

Justice Shujune further noted that the State's appeal challenged the High Court's earlier decision based on arguments that had not previously been presented, and therefore there was no basis for the Supreme Court to intervene. The judgment was supported by Justices Mohamed Ibrahim and Abdulla Hameed.

The appeal stems from the High Court's decision on 18 April 2024 to overturn Former President Abdulla Yameen’s convictions for money laundering and accepting bribes in connection with the Aarah transaction and order a retrial. The State subsequently appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court.

Former Presdient Yameen was convicted by the Criminal Court on 25 December 2022 and sentenced to 11 years in prison, seven years for money laundering and four years for accepting bribes. He was also fined MVR 5 million.