In relation to Hamid’s issue, Umar insisted that the Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Service (DPRS) does not have the necessary resources to enforce the sentence whilst keeping Hamid in prison. In that regard, Umar pointed out that as a member of parliament Hamid is afforded privileges which requires for him to be brought to parliament sittings and committee sit-downs. “If he is kept at a prison outside of Male, DPRS will have to send a speedboat to bring him to every parliament sitting. That means he might have to be brought to Male two or three times a day,” minister said. According to the Minister, the Male prison which has capacity for 120 inmates already has twice that number. Umar said if something should happen to the opposition MP whilst being kept amongst so many inmates, the government will have to take responsibility. “So we don’t have the resources to keep him in Male separately,” Umar said. The Minister further refuted accusations leveled against the government for freeing Hamid, by insisting that the MP is under house arrest and will be produced in court if an order is issued. Hamid was sentenced to prison over his failure to appear in court to face charges for refusing to provide a urine sample during an alcohol bust. However, the authorities had not been able to enforce the sentence as Hamid had sought refuge at the parliament. Hamid left the parliament after 26 days following the presidential elections. Hamid told Haveeru that he had left the parliament as "the government had facilitated for him to stay at home." According to Hamid, his stay at home had been facilitated because of the government's relationship with opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). In addition to Hamid, Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir and Jadulla Jameel from Addu Atoll Hulhudhoo are facing three separate charges, including refusal to provide urine sample, possession of alcohol and use of cannabis. The two parliamentarians from MDP were among the suspects arrested last year from the Haa Dhaal Atoll Hondaidhoo being developed as a tourist resort. Former President Mohamed Nasheed's special envoy Ibrahim Hussain Zaki and press secretary Mohamed Zuhair, his wife Mariyam Faiz, Zaki's son Hamdhan Zaki and Jadulla were also arrested from the island. If convicted of the alcohol possession charges, all three face between one and three years in prison or banishment along with a fine between MVR1,000-5,000. According to the constitution, a member of parliament will be disqualified if convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to more than one year in prison.