While the courts have not yet reached a conclusion regarding sending former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb abroad for medical purposes, a different appeal has been submitted at High Court.

The appeal submitted to High Court requests that Adeeb be transferred under house arrest until the Civil Court reaches a decision regarding allowing medical treatment abroad.

While Adeeb was sentenced to prison last year by the Civil Court, the ruling was later overturned by the High Court. A legal meeting was held at High Court today where an appeal was submitted to allow Adeeb to temporarily serve his sentence under house arrest as per medical advice.

The Attorney representing the former VP submitted Adeeb’s medical records and noted that Adeeb’s medical condition is worsening. Adeeb’s Attorney said that there is a chance that his condition worsens to the point where it endangers Adeeb’s life.

The Attorney requested that the case under Civil Court be further looked into and the requested that the ruling by Civil Court be overturned. Adeeb’s Attorney spoke further and requested the High Court to notify the State regarding Adeeb’s request to travel abroad for medical treatment.

The State Attorney said in the rebuttal that, a ruling was made by Civil Court previously stating that they cannot move forward with Adeeb’s request to travel abroad with good reason. The reason being that there are set prerequisites that needed to be met prior to allowing a convict to travel abroad for treatment. The State lawyer reiterated that the State had received no cooperation from Adeeb to see that these prerequisites are met.

The State Attorney noted that while taking a CT scan was a the prerequisite, Maldives Correctional Services had received no cooperation from Adeeb in an attempt to conduct the scan. The Attorney also said that even if the Civil Court ruling was overturned by High Court, the High Court will not be able to notify the Civil Court to allow Adeeb to travel abroad for treatment at this time.

The Attorney representing the State said that Civil Court had taken the decision to not further look into Adeeb’s appeal for various reasons. The reasons cited by the Attorney was that the case could not go further due to the fact that the case was not categorically carried out. Another reason cited by the Attorney was that Adeeb’s case had already undergone a legal conclusion at Civil Court before.

Due to the appeal made on behalf of Adeeb for temporary house arrest, the State had requested for more time to assemble a rebuttal.

The hearing ended today after the Court allocated time for the State to come up with a rebuttal and adjourned under the advisement that the Court will reach a decision soon.