Demands made by ex-VP's family unreasonable, claims Home Minister

Home Minister, Sheikh Imran Abdula has stated that the demands made by the family of jailed former vice president, Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor is unreasonable, and violates rules and regulations.

At a press conference held on Wednesday, Minister Imran said neither the Home Ministry nor Maldives Correctional Service would be biased towards prisoners or discriminate anyone. The treatment Adeeb is receiving is better than what was provided in the last couple of years, however, this fact is not acknowledged by his family and supporters, alleged Imran.

"The fact is that his family and friends are making unreasonable demands that cannot be fulfilled with the restrictions placed by the laws and regulations. We can assure you that we are not negligent towards Adeeb in anyway", insisted Imran.

He further stressed that he cannot change the sentence of a convicted felon, and nor can he change the location where the prisoner in detained at.

Minister Imran also shed light on the previous government's treatment of Adeeb, noting that he was held in poor prison conditions by the former government. However, he has now been transferred to a special unit where he continues to receive good treatment, noted Imran.

Imran relayed Adeeb's schedule at prison, revealing that Adeeb is locked up in his unit from 9.00pm until 7.00 in the morning. He is released into the prison yard after 7 am, accompanied by a guard He receives nutritious meals on time, and is checked by the prison doctor once a day, and will immediately be brought to Male' for further treatment if advised by the doctor.

"Therefore, I believe the services and treatment Adeeb is receiving [due to his medical condition] is better than what the other prisoners receive", added Imran.

The ex-VP is serving 33 years in prison over two counts of terrorism and corruption including the blast aboard the presidential speedboat which has been now confirmed as a plot to assassinate president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. He is also facing multiple counts of terrorism and graft charges including a second assassination plot involving a Sri Lankan sniper.