Ex-VP Adeeb's family seeks sit-down with ruling party's parliamentary group

Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb’s family has pursued a meeting with the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives’ (PPM) parliamentary group.

A letter from the family expresses that the former vice president has been diagnosed with a number of illnesses since his incarceration in 2015.

The family had highlighted how they are also seeking to have state institutions grant Adeeb, who is serving a thirty-three-year jail sentence, medical leave.

“Therefore, we recognize the close relations our son has had with members of your parliamentary group and ask that you allow us to bring our concerns to you in this meeting” the letter, addressed to MP Ahmed Nihan, signed by Adeeb’s parents say.

The family has also filed negligence claims over the authorities’ refusal to grant him medical leave institutions such as the Transparency Maldives and Human Rights Commission onf the Maldives.

Earlier this week, the former vice president’s family received a letter in response to their request to have Adeeb transferred to house arrest as well. The letter clearly rejects the request, while omitting to provide any further details or justification.

Adeeb’s family had released a statement earlier this month claiming that Adheeb has developed an internal cyst, kidney stones, and vision impairment from glaucoma since his incarceration in 2015.

His family has accused the state of negligence in failing to provide the former vice president with adequate medical care during his isolated incarceration in Dhoonidhoo Island while the police investigated him.

Adeeb, the youngest individual thus far to have served as vice president, was sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison for a reported assassination attempt against President Abdulla Yameen and for his role in the heavily publicized case of graft involving the state-operated Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation.