Lawyer: Seyfert conned by business partners, passport stolen

Ali Azim, who worked as a lawyer for American citizen John Seyfert – scheduled to be deported by Maldives Immigration over lack of documentation – claims Seyfert was conned out of his money by a group of Maldivians who also stole his passport.

John Seyfert, 76, is one of the four people arrested by Maldives Immigration in its crackdown on undocumented foreigners in Hulhumale’ on January 16.

Seyfert, who has been living in Maldives for a number of years, is the part-owner of a guesthouse in Hulhumale’ “Le Vieux Nice Inn” which he set up with his Maldivian business partners.

Ali Azim, who worked as a lawyer for Seyfert spoke to “Sun” this Thursday and said Seyfert invested USD 250,000 in a business with two Maldivian business partners – who later kicked him out of business.

Seyfert filed a civil lawsuit over the issue, and the Civil Court ruled in favor of Seyfert, ordering the men to pay him USD 42,000 in compensation.

Azim said the men have not paid the money to Seyfert, and that the ruling had been appealed at High Court.

He said the two Maldivian businessmen who conned Seyfert were family members of the wife of a parliament member.

Azim said Seyfert had been threatened on a number of occasions to coerce him into leaving Maldives.

He said Seyfert received death threats via 33 phone calls. And was even attacked with a piece of wood.

He said a complaint was filed with the police over the threats.

Azim said that Seyfert, arrested over lack of documents, had his passport stolen on two occasions – which had also been reported to the police.

Police commented that Seyfert filed a complaint regarding his passport being stolen from his residence in 2014. And said that the case was investigated, and he was given a letter by police stating that his passport was stolen.

Azim said Seyfert’s passport was stolen again, and that US embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka had informed them an official would be sent to Maldives later this January to make his passport.

“Le Vieux Nice Inn” was unable for comment regarding the issue.

Following the arrest of Seyfert, the US embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka issued a statement saying the biggest priority of US State Department was ensuring the safety of its citizens. But that it cannot share any further information in order to protect his privacy.

Seyfert is active on social media and has close relationships with Maldivians.

In his Facebook and Twitter posts, he speaks about a group of Maldivians who conned his out of his money and stole his passport under the pretense they were interested in running a guesthouse with him.