Maldives' ex-president accused of politicizing medical leave

Published January 26, 2016

The Maldives' foreign minister has accused former president of politicizing a 30-day medical release by engaging in lobbying and a media campaign abroad.

Mohamed Nasheed has been undergoing medical treatment for a back ailment in United Kingdom since last week, after the government allowed him leave despite a 13-year prison term.

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon said the government acted in good faith in allowing Nasheed to travel abroad for treatment.

But she said in a statement that "it is now clear his primary goal was to court publicity," labeling it "a media leave."

Nasheed became Maldives' first democratically elected president in 2008. He resigned in 2012. Last year, he was imprisoned for ordering the arrest of a judge while he was in power.

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