Fears grow over Gayoom’s health

Jailed ex-president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom should be transferred to house arrest as he now needs round-the-clock care for his health, his lawyer said Thursday.

Maumoon has been asked not to move his head at all by an ENT doctor, Faisal Mohamed told Mihaaru.

“The doctor said there’s a high probability of Maumoon falling at any moment. That’s why he’s having difficulties doing the most basic things on his own,” said Faisal.

Faisal has been asking authorities for a transfer to house arrest, saying it was unsafe to keep Maumoon away from his family.

Daughters Yumna and Dunya also fear for his well-being while he remains in detention, with Yumna saying she had written to authorities as well as the Human Rights Council of the Maldives.

Worried to hear from my mother that my father @maumoonagayoom is not doing well today 😢@hrcmv @MDN_mv @TransparencyMV @UNHumanRights @antonioguterres @amnesty pic.twitter.com/6DJIYELxjg

— Yumna Maumoon (@yumna_maumoon) May 2, 2018

Saddened to hear our father is not well. Thinking of you my sister @yumna_maumoon at this difficult time. May Allah give us all strength & patience. pic.twitter.com/s7vJrGVKLt

— Dunya Maumoon (@dunyamaumoon) May 2, 2018

My father @maumoonagayoom is suffering from a condition known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) which causes dizziness and has high risk of fall and injury. 1/2 @PoliceMv @hrcmv @UNHumanRights @antonioguterres @OmarWaraich @amnesty

— Yumna Maumoon (@yumna_maumoon) May 3, 2018

My father and mother have written to the authorities and @hrcmv requesting that he be transferred to house arrest on medical grounds. He has been suffering from dizzy spells for the last couple of days2/2 @UNHumanRights @antonioguterres @OmarWaraich @amnesty pic.twitter.com/gwsXZY6hzE

— Yumna Maumoon (@yumna_maumoon) May 3, 2018

The 80-year old former strongman is one of the “coup plot” suspects detained during a controversial 45-day state of emergency, issued after a Supreme Court ruling ordered the release of nine high-profile prisoners. It ended on March 22.

Gayoom is on trial for terrorism and charged with destroying evidence.

Earlier this week his half-brother President Abdulla Yameen said suspects would only be released from prison after they had submitted evidence incriminating themselves. Everyone was equal before the law regardless of what they had previously done for their country, he said.

Maumoon served as the country’s president for 30 years.

Photo: Yumna Maumoon