Corrections: Qasim will be brought back, with police assistance if necessary

Authorities will ask for assistance from the police, if necessary, to return Jumhoory Party leader Qasim Ibrahim to Maldives, says Maldives Correctional Service.

Qasim, who is serving a prison sentence for bribery, was granted a seven-day extension to stay abroad for medical treatment. The seven-day extension will end on Monday, October 2.

Information officer at MCS, Ahmed Lugman reported to “Sun” this Sunday that it was standard procedure to obtain police assistance for fugitives who flee abroad.

Lugman said that MCS will seek assistance from the police if Qasim does not return to Maldives at the date he was required to.

He said that the last seven-day extension granted to Qasim was not for medical treatment, but so he could make arrangements to return to Maldives.

Qasim was granted a total of 27 days for medical treatment – including extensions.

Qasim had filed a lawsuit with Civil Court over MCS’s earlier decision not to grant him an extension for medical treatment.

He was sentenced to three years, two months and 12 days in prison in absentia, while he had been admitted at the hospital after collapsing in the middle of a court hearing.

His sentence was later amended, and he was granted permission to serve his sentence under house arrest.