Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb had his passport with him when he was captured trying to flee to India on a tugboat.

Adeeb was captured on August 1 at the Tuticorin Port while pretending to be a crewman of the boat.

Indian news outlets cited officials stating that Adeeb had no documents with him. However, RaajjeMV understands that Adeeb has presented his passport to the Indian police and Customs.

Earlier, the Maldives Supreme Court ordered Immigration to withhold his passport until the conclusion of his court case or until the court states otherwise.

The state requested the Supreme Court to withhold Adeeb’s passport on June 24, after appealing the High Court’s overturn of a guilty verdict.

Immigration Controller Mohamed Ahmed Hassan told RaajjeMV that Adeeb has no valid document, since all travel and valid documents have been cancelled on the order of the Supreme Court.

Even if a passport is withheld, the affected person will have the passport but will not be able to use it to travel or for any other purpose.

Adeeb’s international lawyers have accused authorities of influencing him and forcing him to sign off on false confessions, and Adeeb has even requested the United Nations for asylum.

The police have stated that they are working with neighboring countries to return him to Maldives and to take action against those involved in his attempted escape.

Indian news agencies have stated that Adeeb is still being questioned by Indian authorities on the tugboat.