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Lawyer denies jailed ex-VP's prison escape plan

Jailed former vice president Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor's lawyers on Friday denied a media report claiming that Adheeb had been switched to the Dhoonidhoo prison because of a possible prison escape plan.

Police had declined to comment on the reasons behind the switch from the Maafushi prison last week where the ex-VP was being kept since early last year.

Following the media report which had quoted an unnamed government official, Adheeb's legal team in a statement denied the claims insisting that it was baseless and unfounded.

The statement also urged the media for more responsible journalism.

Adheeb's prison switch comes weeks after a jailed opposition lawmaker had claimed that Adheeb was being kept in a “concrete hole” in Maafushi Prison.

Authorities had however, denied the claim.

Adheeb is serving 33 years in prison over two counts of terrorism and corruption including the blast aboard the presidential speedboat which has been now confirmed as a plot to assassinate president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Adheeb meanwhile is facing multiple counts of terrorism and graft charges including a second assassination plot involving a Sri Lankan sniper.