MP Qasim departs to Germany under special permit

Lawyers for Jumhooree Party leader and Maamigili Constituency MP Qasim Ibrahim have reported that MP Qasim Ibrahim has departed to Germany under a special permit granted by German authorities.

The Parliamentarian was jailed for three years, two months and 12 days on bribery charges.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the lawyers added that MP Qasim had previously sought treatment from Germany as well. It noted that doctors for Qasim, both in Singapore and Germany, had advised to complete his treatment in Germany.

The lawyer’s statement added that MP Qasim was in Germany under a special permit granted on humanitarian grounds.

Lawyers also added that as the Government of Maldives had refused to extend the travel document to MP Qasim they had to appeal to Singaporean authorities to grant a special visa.

Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) on Monday had informed Qasim that if he wished to obtain a travel document, then he must liaise with Maldives Police Service (MPS).

Criminal Court had, on August 24, sentenced the opposition leader to three years, two months and 12 days in prison, after finding him guilty of bribery. He was sentenced in absentia and was unable to attend court due to having been hospitalized at the time.

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 was granted medical leave on September 6th for treatment in Singapore. The 10-day leave was extended by another 10 days on September 10th. An additional five days was granted on 26th September.