The Progressive-Congress coalition has requested President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to transfer former President and leader of the opposition, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom to home arrest. The former president is currently serving a five year sentence on a money-laundering conviction.
The opposition made the request during a meeting held with the president on Wednesday. Acting leader of the Progressive-Congress coalition and President of Peoples' National Congress, Abdul Raheem Abdulla said the opposition coalition requested for a meeting with the president a while back and that the request was finally granted on Wednesday. The purpose of the meeting was solely to request that President Yameen be transferred to home arrest, said Abdula Raheem. Abdul Raheem said he hoped that the outcome of the meeting would be fruitful.
No other discussions took place at Wednesday's meeting.
The Home Ministry recently revealed that the family of President Yameen had requested the government to transfer him to home arrest earlier on March 18. The Home Ministry made the revelation while President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had previously disclosed that the former president had not made any requests pertaining to his health.
The opposition had previously met with Home Minister Imran Abdulla to discuss a possible home transfer. Minister Imran said while doctors have ordered for some tests to be done on President Yameen, the tests cannot be done in the Maldives and would require the president to travel abroad. When presented the opportunity to travel abroad, President Yameen had declined the offer, said Imran.
