Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has been transferred under house arrest tonight.

The transfer of President Yameen has been confirmed through a statement released by Maldives Correctional Service. The statement reiterated that President Yameen had been transferred from custody of Correctional Services to temporary house arrest with the advice of doctors. MCS stated that the medical advice for the transfer was given by doctors due to President Yameen’s weakening medical condition.

Correctional Services were however very clear that President Yameen has only been released under house arrest with certain conditions surrounding the transfer.

The statement further informed that the transfer of the house arrest will only go forward with the agreement of both President Yameen and former First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim on the conditions of the house arrest.

While President Yameen had been brought to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) from prison, in an emergency on 7 March, he had been brought to the hospital on two other occasions as well.