Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has asked a European Union (EU) delegation for help in transferring jailed former President Abdulla Yameen to house arrest.
Nasheed made the request during a courtesy call today by Nacho Sanchez Amor, Member of the European Parliament and Chief Observer of the European Union’s Co-Team for the Presidential Election.
Nasheed told the head of the delegation that the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) coalition's leader should be transferred home in order to ensure that the September 9 presidential election is free and fair. He asked for the EU's help with the task.
Former President Nasheed has been calling for Yameen's release at campaign rallies of his Democrats party. Yameen will be freed in the first week of a Democrats administration, Nasheed pledged.
“We assure the PPM members that within a week of you agreeing to work with us, hopefully within a week, I will bring President Yameen home, even if I have to stay on the streets of Male' all day long. Yameen will be freed," Nasheed said at a campaign rally in Gaaf Dhaal Gadhdhoo.
Nasheed accused the PPM leadership of failing to do the work necessary to free Yameen.
Yameen was sentenced to 11 years in prison after being found guilty of bribery in the leasing of Vaavu Aarah in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption scandal during his government.
