Former vice president Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor, who is serving a 20-year jail sentence over the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Company (MMPRC) corruption scandal, returned to the Maldives on Friday night after having received medical treatment in Singapore, a statement from his political party said. The state had granted the former VP a medical leave, under the supervision of the Maldives Correctional Service, to seek treatment in Singapore.

Abdul Ghafoor arrived in Singapore on 12 July under a 10-day medical leave which, after it had expired, was extended till the end of October.

The Maldives Third-way Democrats (MTD), led by Abdul Ghafoor, said Friday that he had returned after completing the first phase of his treatment.

“We are pleased to announce that the first phase of Mr. Adheeb’s medical treatments has been successfully completed. As per the recommendation of his doctors, the second and final phase of his treatment will be continued in October 2023,” MTD said in a social media post.

The party also expressed gratitude towards the government for allowing its leader to receive overseas medical attention. His medical leave overseas was initially granted on 11 July, after he was approved by the Medical Board of the Maldives Correctional Service to seek treatments not accessible in the Maldives.

His return comes despite his medical leave being extended on multiple occasions, most recently just two days prior to his return. The reason for these overseas treatments, according to the MTD, is a severe neurological condition that poses a serious risk to his life. The condition was diagnosed after he spent three isolated years in solitary confinement between 2015 and 2018.

Though sentenced to 20 years in prison in October 2020 due to his involvement in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) embezzlement scandal, Abdul Ghafoor has been under house arrest since that year. The confinement at home was justified on medical grounds and followed a plea agreement he made with the government. Alongside the prison term, a fine of MVR 2 million was imposed on him, which remains unpaid.

As a result of the outstanding fines, the Attorney General’s Office has moved to initiate a civil action to recover the sum through the Civil Court.

Abdul Ghafoor has also applied for his sentence to be commuted.

Additional writing by Andrew Richards