Maldives’ jailed former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has been brought to capital city Malé for several medical tests.
Maumoon and former first lady Nasreena Ibrahim were seen at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital on Thursday, along with several officers of the Maldives Correctional Services.
Maumoon had undergone blood and urine tests, at the request of his doctor. The former president was diagnosed with a condition of the inner ear called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in May, after his conviction.
The state has refused to allow Maumoon access to medical treatment in Malé or to have a caretaker with him, despite doctors advising as such due to his vertigo making the 83-year-old prone to collapses.
In August, his family and lawyers reported a further deterioration in his health and authorities said that a police officer is being kept with at all times. The longstanding former president has been in detention since his arrest on February 5th.
Maumoon was tried alongside two Supreme Court justices for terrorism and prosecution had claimed he facilitated the ‘unlawful’ issuing of a contentious order to release political prisoners. They were sentenced for obstruction of justice – over refusing to hand over their mobile phones.
President Abdulla Yameen claimed that the court order was part of a ‘judicial coup’ and his arrests of those reportedly involved have been described by critics as an attempt to tighten his grips on power ahead of September’s ballots.
