Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb, on Thursday, requested protection from the Indian government following his apprehension from a tug boat at Tuticorin port, India, during a foiled escape attempt
Maldives Police Service is currently working to extradite the former vice president.
Adeeb's international legal team issued a statement revealing that he had sought Indian protection due to fears of politically motivated charges and being coerced to issue false statements by investigative authorities.
According to his lawyers, state institutions had ordered Adeeb to admit to crimes he was not guilty of committing and pressured him to sign official statements.
Furthermore, Adeeb's legal team expressed that the aforementioned factors could potentially endanger the former vice president and his family.
Highlighting the lack of bilateral agreements between Maldives and India concerning the exchange of prisoners, the statement asserted that Indian authorities could deliver Adeeb to Maldivian authorities. The legal team further urged the Indian government to handle the request for protection appropriately.
Indian police revealed that Adeeb, who was acquitted in the MVR 1.3 billion embezzlement case of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), was being questioned over an alleged attempt at entering India illegally without the legal permits or required documents.
Although all the charges against ex-VP Adeeb were dropped, clearing him from serving a jail sentence of 33 years, the state appealed one case regarding the MMPRC fraud at the Supreme Court.
He had fled to India via a sea route while his passport was withheld and he was ordered to answer a summons on Wednesday.
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