Adeeb’s medical furlough extended by 10 days

The Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) extended former vice president Ahmed Adeeb’s medical furlough by 10 days on Tuesday.

The MCS said in a statement that Adeeb had requested an extension on Tuesday – just a day before his medical leave was due to expire. The MCS said Adeeb was unable to complete necessary medical treatment in the allotted time and needed to remain for further health checks, including screening for cancer.

Adeeb, who stands accused of grand corruption, left the Maldives on June 17 and announced plans to return to the country on June 26, unless an extension was required. 

Adeeb was issued a temporary travel document. It is valid for one year but only allows the user to make a single round trip to India.

The government’s decision to grant Adeeb medical leave incensed the public, who fear he might abscond. But the home ministry and police have assured the parliamentary national security committee that there is “no chance” Adeeb can escape.

Adeeb, who served as former president Abdulla Yameen’s second deputy, was accused of plotting to assassinate Yameen and involvement in the historic MMPRC grand corruption case, during which more than US$90 million was embezzled from state coffers. He was sentenced to 33 years in jail but had his convictions quashed in May by appellate courts on the grounds of undue political influence over the trials in 2016. The High Court has ordered fresh trials for two of the three convictions against Adeeb.

Meanwhile on Monday, the Supreme Court ordered a travel ban on Adeeb after accepting the prosecutor general’s appeal for the apex court to overturn the High Court’s quashing of his convictions.