President’s envoy meets Gayoom and chief justice in prison

Defence Minister Adam Shareef met former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed in prison, a lawyer said Monday.

He visited them on Sunday as an envoy of President Abdulla Yameen. The government has not disclosed details about the encounter.

Gayoom shared concerns over his health, jail conditions and trial issues, lawyer Maumoon Hameed said.

“Just finished meeting president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom at Dhoonidhoo. I’m pleased to report that, despite a visit to him yesterday by a certain high official of the government, his jaw remains uninjured.”

Housing minister Dr. Mohamed Muizzu also met Gayoom, Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed as the president’s envoy in February.

“I have met with former president Gayoom, justices Abdulla Saeed and Ali Hameed to check on their health. I asked them about things such as their health and conditions in jail,” he tweeted.

The 80-year-old former strongman and the two judges were arrested during a state of emergency in connection with an alleged coup plot.

Gayoom has been detained for the duration of his terrorism trial, despite appeals by his family and lawyers to transfer him to house arrest due to a medical condition.

Hameed, who is in prison for influencing official conduct, also suffers from paraplegia and has been rushed to hospital twice since his arrest.

Saeed, jailed for obstruction of state functions and influencing official conduct, has also complained of the conditions in prison.

The trio are also on trial for obstruction of justice and terrorism. They deny all charges.