The Maldives Correctional Service has granted Qasim Ibrahim’s request to have his medical leave abroad extended.

The service had extended his leave by 10 days, a decision made and officially enforced on Wednesday.

The Jumhooree Party leader is currently in Singapore after having been granted leave last week.

The opposition leader was sentenced to 3 years, 2 months, and 12 days in prison over bribery allegations. Qasim was sentenced in absentia, given how he had been hospitalized while the Criminal Court passed the sentence.

The charges were put forth under Section 510 of the Penal Code – on 'bribery and official misconduct' – claiming that he had attempted to influence the authority of a public official.

Qasim’s medical condition requires further diagnosis and potentially urgent surgery, according to his doctors. They have also said that any delay in treatment could pose risks to his life.

The state’s initial delay in granting Qasim medical leave abroad was met with heavy criticism by his supporters and members of the opposition, who had highlighted that the Criminal Court sentence against him had specifically asked that he be adequate medical care during incarceration.