Police assistance was sought as Corrections officers were unable to leave Yaagoothuge: Husham

Commissioner of Prisons Ahmed Husham has stated that the institution had to appeal for Police assistance as the Maldives Correctional Service Officers were unable to leave former President Mohamed Nasheed’s residence, M. Yaagoothuge.

Speaking in a press conference held in Home Ministry, Husham stated that the officers had followed normal procedure in retrieving individuals in arrest.

He also stated that the officers were not allowed to meet Nasheed, as requested. Husham stated that Nasheed’s family had requested the officers to wait first for 15 minutes, then 30 minutes and when they had attempted to leave the residence, they were barred from doing so.

Husham said that they had appealed for Police assistance only when it became apparent the officers will not be able to exit the premises. In the press conference Husham briefed media on Nasheed’s medical history for the past three months, noting that the doctors had recommended a three month stay in a stress free environment for Nasheed. He added that three days after Nasheed’s transfer to house arrest, he had been given an MRI scan as well.

“He was first consulted on 12th June. He was transferred home, after requesting from Home Ministry. He was consulted again on 23rd June.

The doctor recommended 8 weeks stay in a stress free environment. The 8 weeks expired on 19th August. He was consulted again on 20th August and the doctor recommended that he has to stay at home for the remainder of his sentence. Doctor also recommended light exercises such as swimming every day for an hour. Such measures need to be discussed with relevant parties and therefore Nasheed was shifted back to jail, to serve rest of his sentence,” Husham said.

He added that it was questionable that a medical doctor would give such a recommendation and that it was not possible for Correctional Services to carry out such a recommendation. Speaking in the press conference, Dr. Mohamed Shainee, who is the interim Home Minister, said that acting on such a recommendation was not permissible, especially in the case of a criminal sentence. He added that Nasheed was transferred back to jail as some of the measures recommended were not possible to be carried out while under arrest.