Maldives Police Service have confirmed that former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor has been arrested.
The police posted a tweet on Saturday confirming the former Vice President's arrest.
The confirmation comes after an official from the government verfiied to Indian medias that Adeeb had been handed over to Maldivian authorities.
The official said Adeeb was escorted to the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) by the Indian Coast Guard overnight and then “transferred” to a Maldivian Coast Guard ship, where officials took him into custody.
Adeeb is now being transported to Male’ under their custody, confirmed Maldives Police.
Adeeb fled to India after the Supreme Court acquitted him of all convictions against him. Adeeb remains a subject of investigation for alleged misappropriation of state funds, corruption and money laundering, and has an active travel ban imposed on him.
It is understood that Adeeb departed to India in an attempt to flee Maldives last Saturday, following a vacation to a local resort during the Independence Day holidays. Adeeb's departure became known to authorities on Sunday, upon which the police immediately began work to locate Adeeb with assistance fom India and Sri Lanka.
Singapore-registered 'Virgo 9', the tug boat on which Adeeb traveled to India stopped at Maldives after loading gravel in Indonesia. Eight Indonesian and one Indian crewman were aboard the boat at the time. Adeeb's attempt to enter India was thwarted by the Indian crewman.
Adeeb was quizzed on the tugboat just off Tuticorin harbour in India, and was not permitted to enter India since he was not entering through a designated entry point and did not possess valid documents. The Indian government also denied Adeeb's request seeking asylum in the country.
Adeeb and his wife recently traveled to India for medical purposes with the permission of Maldives Correctional Service while under their custody. He returned to Maldives after the medical trip amid public concerns that he would attempt to flee the country, and proclaimed that he was not one to 'flee the country'.
