President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has ratified the first amendment to the “Former Presidents Protection and Benefit Bill” (Act No. 9/2009). The amendment was passed by the Parliament at the 22nd sitting of its first session, on 6th April 2016.
Following ratification, the Act has been published in the Government Gazette.
The amendment revokes privileges and immunities that are accorded by the state to former presidents and their spouses if they are convicted of any criminal offence during their term at office. Furthermore this amendment will be applied to the former Presidents who are already convicted, by the courts, of criminal offence.