Home Minister trying to intimidate Qasim, authorities violating court ruling: JP deputy

Following Home Minister Azleen Ahmed's comments that action will be taken against jailed Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim for traveling to Germany 'unlawfully', Abdulla Riyaz has said that the minister is trying to 'intimidate' him.

In an interview to a local news outlet, the Home Minister had stated that the Maamigilli constituency MP had traveled to Germany 'against regulations' and that the issue will be submitted to the relevant institutions, and that action will be taken against him, if required.

Speaking to RaajjeMV on Saturday, the party's deputy leader and Kinbidhoo constituency MP Riyaz alleged that it is the government 'that has been violating the Criminal Court ruling'. He noted that the court ruling does not specify that Qasim can only seek treatment in Singapore.

Furthermore, noting that the government has not been providing assistance as stated by the court ruling, Riyaz said that the authorities did not follow the court order when granting him medical leave. He also said that Qasim had faced various obstacles while seeking medical treatment in Singapore, due to the government's refusal to provide the necessary documentations.

"I do not believe that there is any action that can be taken against Qasim, not lawfully," he added.

Riyaz also noted that the authorities had refused to extend Qasim's travel document, after which he 'tried to return to Maldives but was unable to because of his health condition'.

Furthermore, he said that the authorities 'must allow Qasim to seek treatment, as per the court ruling', and that he 'will return to Maldives as soon as it is completed'.

Qasim, sentenced to three years two months and twelve days in prison on bribery, was granted permission to travel to Singapore in September, for medical purposes. While the 10-day medical leave was extended twice, giving him an additional 15 days, his legal team, on November 28, revealed that the business tycoon and Maamigillli constituency MP is now in Germany, having traveled there under a special permit by the German authorities.