<p class="title">Maldivian authorities Monday ordered the arrest of former strongman president Abdulla Yameen over money laundering charges, officials said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The arrest came after a court began a preliminary hearing into allegations that Yameen received nearly USD 1.5 million in illicit payments just before he lost his re-election bid in September.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Prosecutors said that Yameen had allegedly attempted to bribe witnesses," a court official said, adding that the former president would be taken to the Dhoonidhoo prison island near the capital.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Yameen, who came to power in 2013 and jailed many of his opponents or forced them into exile, had been summoned to the Criminal Court Sunday to formally receive his indictment.</p>.<p class="bodytext">During his five-year tenure, Yameen relied heavily on China for political and financial support as he came under criticism over his dismal human rights record.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Indian Ocean archipelago nation of 340,000 Sunni Muslims is heavily in debt to China.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Authorities believe millions of dollars allegedly siphoned off by Yameen could be stashed abroad, and have said that talks are underway with foreign entities to repatriate any cash found.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The court has already frozen Yameen's local bank accounts holding about USD 6.5 million, a decision the former leader has contested.</p>.<p class="bodytext">There was no immediate comment from Yameen or his legal team on the latest court order. (AFP) MRJ MRJ</p>
<p class="title">Maldivian authorities Monday ordered the arrest of former strongman president Abdulla Yameen over money laundering charges, officials said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The arrest came after a court began a preliminary hearing into allegations that Yameen received nearly USD 1.5 million in illicit payments just before he lost his re-election bid in September.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Prosecutors said that Yameen had allegedly attempted to bribe witnesses," a court official said, adding that the former president would be taken to the Dhoonidhoo prison island near the capital.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Yameen, who came to power in 2013 and jailed many of his opponents or forced them into exile, had been summoned to the Criminal Court Sunday to formally receive his indictment.</p>.<p class="bodytext">During his five-year tenure, Yameen relied heavily on China for political and financial support as he came under criticism over his dismal human rights record.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Indian Ocean archipelago nation of 340,000 Sunni Muslims is heavily in debt to China.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Authorities believe millions of dollars allegedly siphoned off by Yameen could be stashed abroad, and have said that talks are underway with foreign entities to repatriate any cash found.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The court has already frozen Yameen's local bank accounts holding about USD 6.5 million, a decision the former leader has contested.</p>.<p class="bodytext">There was no immediate comment from Yameen or his legal team on the latest court order. (AFP) MRJ MRJ</p>