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Jailed ex-defence minister leaves to Malaysia for medical care

Jailed former defense minister Mohamed Nazim on Friday left to Malaysia, less than a day after Maldives correctional service granted medical leave for the former minister 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.

AVAS understands that Nazim has been given 30 days medical leave and would be required to return to the Maldives at the end of the period.

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.