Maldives Correctional Services (MCS) has ordered Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim to return to the Maldives.

The Maamigilli constituency MP, convicted on bribery charges, traveled to Singapore on September 6, after MCS granted him a 10-day medical leave. The leave was extended by an additional 10-days, and will expire on Thursday.

He had undergone a cardiac surgery on Wednesday, and is still recovering.

MCS' media officer had said that Qasim's family and legal team have been informed that his medical leave "cannot be extended further," and that he has been asked to return before the leave expires.

The family had informed authorities that Qasim's heart condition required further diagnosis, noting that doctors had advised that he remain in Singapore for three months, as his condition had to be monitored.

The business tycoon was sentenced in absentia, to three years, two months and 12 days in prison over bribery charges, on the 24th of August, over comments he had made at an opposition gathering. He was sentenced in absentia, given that he was admitted in Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital at the time of sentencing.

The decision to convict and sentence Qasim, late at night while he was admitted in hospital, was met with scrutiny from both the opposition and the international community.