Rilwan’s family: Adeeb shouldn’t be allowed to avoid probe into abduction

The family of missing journalist Ahmed Rilwan has appealed to the authorities not to allow the former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor to dodge questioning on his possible connection with Rilwan’s abduction.

Rilwan’s family issued a press release this Saturday expressing concern over the public appeals by several opposition leaders to allow Adeeb to travel abroad for medical treatment.

“We feel Adeeb should be questioned and investigated in connection with Rilwan’s abduction. Adeeb has connections with several parties believed to have been involved in Rilwan’s abduction,” wrote the family in its press release.

Rilwan’s family expressed concern Adeeb may refuse to return to Maldives if he is allowed to travel abroad and avoid questioning in connection with the case.

The family noted that Adeeb has been implicated in several of the country’s biggest embezzlement cases.

The family said the State must provide sufficient medical care to all prisoners without delay. But that the State should arrange for doctors and resources to be transported to Maldives for treatment of prisoners suffering medical conditions not treatable from Maldives instead of allowing prisoners to travel abroad.

“The State should bear full responsibility for providing the opportunity for such inmates to escape.”

Rilwan was abducted in the early hours of August 8, 2014.