Maldives correctional service on Thursday revealed its decision to grant medical leave for former defense minister Mohamed Nazim to seek medical care abroad.
Nazim was sentenced to 11 years in prison after he was convicted of weapons possession after police found a hand gun in his residence. However, neither his DNA nor fingerprints was found on the weapon.
A correctional service official confirmed to AVAS that its medical board had sanctioned leave for Nazim to seek medical care abroad adding that the former minister would depart later Thursday.
However, AVAS has been unable to confirm Nazim's exact destination.
The decision to allow medical leave for Nazim came in the wake of the opposition's resounding victory in last month's presidential elections.
Since the election victory on September 23, most of the jailed opposition officials has either been released or granted bail.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) last year had ruled that Nazim's trial was deeply flawed and called on the government for his immediate release.
