Jailed former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb's defence lawyer alleges that his client is being deprived of his right to medical attention because the government 'intends to kill him'.

Moosa Siraj made the allegation in response to a tweet by Galolhu South constituency MP Ahmed Mahloof, who claimed that Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohamed Jamsheed was demoted 'because he refused to poison Adeeb, and instead tried to deliver the message to him'. Mahloof further alleged that 'the reason the demotion has been stalled' is because Jamsheed 'has an audio recording'.

The parliamentarian appealed to the Maldives Police Service (MPS), to elaborate on the matter.

Retweeting MP Mahloof's tweet, Siraj emphasized that it is 'deeply worrying that the government is acting in ways that raises such suspicions, especially due to the increased reports of plans to kill Adeeb'.

"He is being deprived of his right to medical attention because [they] intend to kill him," added the lawyer.

Adeeb was sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison for on allegations of attempting to assassinate President Abdulla Yameen and for his role in the heavily publicized case of graft involving the state-operated Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation. Adeeb’s family had released a statement in June, claiming that he has developed an internal cyst, kidney stones, and vision impairment from glaucoma since his incarceration in 2015.

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) is yet to make any comments regarding ACP Jamsheed's demotion, rather saying that they do not have to release information regarding such changes within the institution.

Reports indicate that the Assistant Commissioner is to be demoted to Superintendent, and is to be transferred to Addu City.