One of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s legal representatives, Hussain Shameem has in the late hours of Thursday, revealed that Maldives Police Service has confiscated his client’s medications after having transferred him from Maafushi prison to the detention facility in Dhoonidhoo island on Thursday.
Shameem, who had previously served as Deputy Prosecutor General, had revealed this via a post on his official twitter account on Thursday, mere hours after Gayoom’s transfer. Evidently, officers of the MPS had confiscated his medications without his realization, and Gayoom had realized they were missing when he had gone to take his evening dose.
Moreover, the long-term lawyer said that the Maldives Correctional Service had informed him that his client was being held under MPS custody when he had made an appeal at the service to meet with his client. However, upon his request to schedule a meeting with his client, Shameem was told that Gayoom was being held in the custody of MCS.
Following the muddle, Shameem had said that Gayoom’s lawyers are unsure exactly where their client is being confined.
Shameem in his tweet spelled out his concern that MCS may have abducted the former strongman, having moved him without informing him, his family members or legal representatives. The lawyer inquired MPS whether they think it’s a “bit too much” to remove his medications without his knowledge. Moreover, Shameem in his tweet called on authorities to show some respect to the 80-year-old statesman.
I'm concerned that @Corrections_Mv abducted @maumoonagayoom, moved him without informing him, his family or lawyers. Now @PoliceMv, Don't you think it's a bit too much to remove his meds without him knowing? I mean, he's an old man, for God's sake, Show some respect! despicable.
— Hussain Shameem (@HuShameem) August 23, 2018
An additional tweet by the lawyer reads that the Minister of Home Affairs, Azleen Ahmed will be held responsible for this.
Also, can the real abductors, please stand up? @PoliceMv or @Corrections_Mv? Who has my client @maumoonagayoom in custody? Ali Shahid from corrections say it's police, police say corrections. @AzleenAhmed we will hold you responsible!!
— Hussain Shameem (@HuShameem) August 23, 2018
MCS had previously said that Gayoom was being transferred to Dhoonidhoo island under “special circumstances” that comes under the Prisons and Parole Act of the Maldives. Gayoom’s transfer comes at a time when doctors had been dispatched to Maafushi prison after his health had deteriorated earlier this week.