Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb, who is currently serving a sentence on a corruption conviction, has been granted an extension for his medical treatment period by the Maldives Correctional Service.
Adeeb had traveled to Singapore under the custody of Corrections and the police on July 11, following permission to seek medical treatment abroad. Despite being initially granted a 10-day period to return to the Maldives, he did not return within the period.
In response to queries about Adeeb's return, a spokesperson for the Maldives Correctional Service earlier said that Adeeb had formally submitted a request for an extension of the deadline, providing the necessary documents to support his request. The same procedure is followed for all prisoners who are unable to complete their treatment within the initially granted period. The Correction's medical board will review the submitted documents and make a decision accordingly, he had said.
In a recent update, the Maldives Correctional Service has officially approved the extension of Ahmed Adeeb's medical treatment period until August 28.
According to Adeeb's party, the Maldives Third Way Democrats (MTD), Adeeb suffers from a life-threatening neurological disease and was advised by several doctors at various hospitals to seek treatment abroad.
In a previous statement, MTD said Adeeb was unjustly tortured in prison and prevented from receiving medical treatment during the rule of former President Abdullah Yameen from 2015 to 2018. However, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration has facilitated for Adeeb to receive adequate medical treatment, the party acknowledged. The MTD emphasized their belief in the fundamental right of every individual, regardless of their political affiliation, to access quality healthcare.
Adeeb has previously suffered from several health problems and has received treatment in the Maldives and abroad. In 2019, he was apprehended while attempting to escape to India on a tug boat.
