The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has asked for help from the Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) to fill former president Abdulla Yameen's candidacy form for September's presidential election.
An MCS official told Adhadhu that the prisons authority will provide assistance with the candidacy papers as requested by the PPM.
With 47 days left for the election, PPM candidate Yameen is serving an 11-year jail sentence.
Yameen was sentenced to 11 years in prison after he was found guilty of accepting a USD 1.1 million bribe from Yoosuf Naeem to lease Vaavu Aarah.
The appeal of the verdict started at the High Court last month but no hearing has been held since the Eid holidays. Judge Huzaifa Mohamed took leave first to attend to family matters and Judge Mohamed Saleem is now on leave.
On Saturday, Yameen's legal team filed a case at the Supreme Court over the alleged infringement of Yameen's electoral rights due to the delay in concluding the High Court appeal. But the Supreme Court rejected the constitutional case.
The Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) awarded the coalition's presidential ticket to Yameen, but his candidacy cannot be accepted unless the conviction is overturned, Elections Commission (EC) President Fuwad Thowfeek said previously.
Yameen is also on trial on bribery and money laundering charges over the lease of Raa Fuggiri island. He is accused of accepting a USD 1.1 million bribe through Ahmed 'Krik' Riza and of laundering the money through two Sun companies.
The trial is ongoing at the Criminal Court with consecutive hearings held close together.
The EC invited applications from presidential candidates on Sunday. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as well as Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim and Maldives National Party leader Mohamed Nazim are contesting in the September 9 election.
Only Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb has stood in the presidential primary of The Democrats formed by Speaker Mohamed Nasheed.
The PPM insists that Yameen remains its presidential candidate.
