The Department of Immigration and Emigration has said that former President Mohamed Nasheed could not leave the country earlier today due to a technical problem.
A press statement released by the Department states that even though Hulhumale’ Court had issued an order in October 2012 to withhold Nasheed’s passport, it had also issued an order permitting him to travel abroad from 19 December 2012 to 6 January 2013.
The statement says that the court order permitting travel for Nasheed was received on 19 December and entered into the Department’s system; however, Nasheed could not depart this morning due to a technical problem with the Department’s system.
The Immigration Department apologised to all groups that faced problems with arrival and departure today, and said that the problem has now been fixed.
“…Mohamed Nasheed could not leave the country on the morning of 21 December due to a technical problem with the Department’s system. The problem has been identified and solved moments ago. Thus, we apologise to all groups that faced difficulties in arrival and departure today in relation to the problem that prevented Mohamed Nasheed from departing Maldives on 21 December.”
MDP said today that the purpose of Nasheed’s trip was to accompany his father, who is ill, abroad. Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Shahid met Nasheed at Yaagoothuge late last night prior to Nasheed’s trip.