State appeals order to permit Qasim abroad for treatment

State has appealed the order issued by Criminal Court to authorities to allow Jumhoory Party leader Qasim Ibrahim abroad for medical treatment.

The appeal was filed on behalf of the State by Attorney General’s Office. It is unclear at this point whether the appeal has been accepted by the High Court.

Qasim was sentenced in absentia to three years, two months and 12 days in prison by Criminal Court on August 24 for attempted bribery. He had been admitted at the hospital when the sentence was issued.

Criminal Court had ordered the authorities to arrange for medical treatment abroad during his sentence.

Qasim suffers from a cardiac condition and his doctors have advised that he seek treatment abroad for his condition to avoid life threatening damage.

Minister of Home Affairs, Ahmed Azleen and Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) recently visited Qasim at the hospital as special envoys of the President. They have denied the government was making any attempt to prevent Qasim from leaving the country, and said they were doing everything in their power to facilitate it.