President: No special treatment for a specific prisoner

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih today stated that the government had no intention of treating a specific inmate serving time in prison in a special manner.

The president was responding to a question by a journalist in a press conference today about releasing former president Abdulla Yameen who is currently serving a five-year prison sentence.

Responding to the question, President Solih said that the law stated how inmates could be pardoned and that the government would be following the law in doing so.

“The discretion to pardon inmates is set under a special procedure through the law. We will be following that procedure and have no intention of treating a specific inmate in a specific manner.” Said the President.

When asked if the President would be open to discussing the measures taken for the Covid-19 virus with the opposition, the President responded by saying that he and the government discussed the matters with health professionals and advised the citizens to also heed the instructions of health professionals.

The president also noted the importance of cooperation and unity during this time.