Corrections says no to Qasim’s medical leave extension

Maldives Correctional Service has informed imprisoned Jumhoory Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim’s family the authority cannot grant permission to an extension to the 10-day medical leave granted to Qasim so he can travel out of the country for medical treatment.

Sources report Qasim’s family was informed of the decision via a letter last Sunday. Maldives Correctional Service was not immediately available for comment.

Qasim’s son, Mohamed Yagsaan Qasim had sent a letter to Maldives Correctional Service informing the authority that Qasim was currently under treatment at the Heart, Stroke and Cancer Center of Paragon Medical Center in Singapore.

Yagsaan said the doctors had advised Qasim to undergo a coronary angioplasty. And that the procedure was scheduled for September 15 at the Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital in Singapore.

“The doctors have advised that my father needs to be closely monitored until his condition stabilizes, and that it would require three months. The doctors have also instructed that he cannot travel by air until December 2017,” said Yagsaan in his letter.

He requested that Qasim be granted permission to stay in Singapore until December and that the authority grant an extension to his medical leave.

He submitted a copy of the doctor’s letter along with his request.

Qasim was sentenced to three years, two months and 12 days for bribery, in absentia, while at the hospital on August 24. His sentence was later amended and he was granted permission to serve his sentence under house arrest.

He was allowed to travel out of the country 13 days after he was admitted to Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital.