There is a chance that former vice president Ahmed Adeeb could die in his prison cell if the adequate medical care is not provided, his lawyer Moosa Siraj has said.

Speaking to RaajjeMV on Monday, Siraj said that the former VP has to be given the necessary medical care, adding that there is a lot they had not revealed about his condition before.

“Honestly, there is a lot we had not mentioned before. Adeeb does not have just one cyst. He has not been treated for that. If not given the adequate treatment, the cyst could turn to cancer. If he does not receive treatment for his eye condition, he could go blind,” Siraj said.

Adeeb’s family had, earlier in June, released a statement claiming that he has developed an internal cyst, kidney stones and vision impairment from glaucoma since his incarceration in 2015.

Noting that Adeeb’s family has a history of cancer, Siraj said that a relative of his had passed away due to the illness.

“Hence, if the adequate medical care is not provided in time, he could die in his prison cell,” added Siraj.

Furthermore, he noted that doctors’ have advised that Adeeb be taken abroad for medical treatment, as it is not available here in the Maldives.

Adeeb’s family had sent letters to both the Maldives Correctional Services (MCS) and Maldives Police Service (MPS), asking to allow him to travel abroad for medical treatment. However, both institutions refused to take responsibility, with MPS saying that MCS has the power to do so. MCS says that Adeeb is not under the facility.

While Adeeb has been sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison on charges of corruption and terrorism, he is currently being held at Dhoonidhoo Detention Centre.

Adeeb’s family had also asked MCS that he be transferred to house arrest for the remainder of Ramadan, to which the institution responded that he cannot be transferred. However, MCS did not disclose a reason for the decision.

Jailed former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim and leader of Adhaalath Sheikh Imran Abdulla were both transferred to house arrest prior to the start of Ramadan.

MCS spokesperson Ahmed Lugman had said that “high-profile prisoners were transferred to house arrest for the duration of the fasting month of Ramadan”.