Former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's driver Ponia Sudagar has been barred from lawyer privileges by the local authorities, according to his lawyer.
The expatriate employed as the former president's designated driver is charged by the state for direct involvement in bribing parliament members in a plot to overthrow the government as well as the involvement of bribing several other parliamentarians in another offense.
Furthermore, Sudagar's lawyer Mohamed Favvaz has stated that the expatriate is charged with act of terrorism.
"Sudagar was taken for interrogation around midnight on the night of his arrest, this was assured to the lawyer who went to meet him. He had requested for an advocate from the interrogating officers, however they declined stating that lawyers are unnecessary during interrogation phase," Favvaz said.
The statement from his lawyer, Favvaz, who was unable to represent him earlier due to conflict of interest as the advocate was already representing another individual attached the same case, read Sudagar is restricted from lawyer privileges in an attempt by authorities to force a fabricated testimony.
Favvaz added the motive behind barring lawyer-client meet for Sudagar is to 'coerce' a favorable testimony for the authorities, in lieu of an actual statement. Sudagar's advocate had expressed deep concern and alleged Maldives Police Service were attempting to forge a testimony as well as contaminate a transparent investigation by coercion.
The statement also added that Ponia Sudagar was arrested and remanded for 15 days at Vilimale' police station, which is an unusual conduct for suspects in remand. Conventionally suspects of criminal offenses are transferred to Dhoonidhoo jail during their remand.
