Wanted to leave the country because of threats to my life: Adeeb

Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb has said that he wanted to leave the country “because there is danger to [his] life.”

He said this at a remand hearing held late Sunday night, following his return to the country after an unsuccessful flee attempt. It was at the hearing that it was revealed that Adeeb had signed an agreement with the Prosecutor General (PG) Office, to cooperate with authorities in the biggest embezzlement case in the country's history, under the Criminal Procedure Act.

At the hearing, Adeeb highlighted that he has been cooperating with the Prosecutor General (PG) as per the agreement "for the past two months."

Noting that he has always cooperated with authorities, the former VP emphasized that he “will always” do so.

Also at the hearing, Adeeb’s defence lawyer Mahfooz Saeed said that even though he planned to flee that he intended to continue to work with authorities.

Further, Adeeb alleged that the PG Office had violated their agreement and attempted to alter the information he had provided in the investigation.

As such, he said that this information was being shared with other parties including senior government officials, judges, lawmakers and politicians; Adeeb further claimed that he was being threatened by these people.

However, he did not disclose any further details about those the accusations were directed at.

The state also made the same allegation against Adeeb, saying that they were seeking to keep him in remand due to agreement violations and because he is a flight risk.

Adeeb’s lawyer had also assured that he will not repeat this, attempting to flee, and asked to keep officers stationed at his residence.

Mahfooz added that Adeeb is willing to continue to work with the authorities, given that he is provided police protection as per agreement.

Furthermore, while the state had requested an arrest warrant from the Supreme Court, Mahfooz said that this is also a violation of the agreement with the PG.

While the Criminal Court had ruled “no grounds” to keep him in remand, he was arrested on Monday morning under a new arrest warrant; he is to be presented for remand hearing within 24 hours of the arrest.

Adeeb was caught while trying to enter India via a tugboat on Thursday. Indian authorities had refused him entry to the country since he tried to enter at a non-sanctioned port in Thoothukudi and without valid documents; while reports first surfaced that Adeeb was deported from India, authorities deny this.

He was handed over to Maldivian authorities on Saturday morning, along with the nine crew members on the tugboat he was traveling in, and police confirmed his arrest shortly after.

Adeeb was returned to the country at around 10pm on Sunday.