Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s family has on Thursday gone to the Maldives Correctional Services’ (MCS) head office in Malé, demanding his immediate release.

The Maumoon Reform Movement (MRM) said that former first lady Fathimath Nasreena and daughter Yumna Maumooon had gone to the office at about 9:30AM on Thursday.

However, the family said that they could not get a 'straight answer' from MCS officers about facilitating Muamoon's release. 

While the former president is serving a jail term, of a year, seven months, and six days, the national board of health has advised that he be released for medical purposes.

On Monday, Maumoon was taken to court after his legal representatives asked that his remand, on additional terrorism charges, be reviewed.

However, the court had decided against his release on the basis that he is serving a jail sentence. Circumstances are the same for former justices Abdulla Saeed and Ali Hameed.

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.