Opposition Jumhooree Party (JP) leader, Qasim Ibrahim has returned to Maldives after living in self-exile for over a year.

President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Vice President-elect Faisal Naseem had welcomed him at Velana International Airport (VIA) on Thursday afternoon.

His return comes days after the Supreme Court granted him bail. Qasim was sentenced to three years, two months and 12 days in prison on attempted bribery in August 2017.

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.

While he has sentenced in absentia as he was admitted at hospital at the time of the verdict hearing, he was granted medical leave to Singapore in September 2017 where he had to undergo heart surgery. He then traveled to Germany, under a special permit from German authorities, in November.

Home Minister Ahmed Azleen had said that the JP leader had traveled to Germany ‘unlawfully’ and that action will be taken against him.

Along with Qasim, other self-exiled senior opposition officials returned to Maldives on Thursday, including former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) chair and current JP president Ali Waheed and Dr. Shah Mahir who recently joined the party.