US citizen in immigration detention facility since January
The immigration department was planning to deport the 76-year-old on February 10 over the lack of a passport or valid work visa when the civil court ordered the authorities to halt the deportation until several ongoing cases are concluded.
22 May 2017, 9:00 AM
John Seyfert, a United States citizen, has been in a detention facility in Hulhumalé since January with the immigration authority unable to deport him due to ongoing court cases.
The immigration department was planning to deport the 76-year-old on February 10 over the lack of a passport or valid work visa when a court order was issued to halt the deportation until the cases are concluded.
“He says he is being treated like an animal. He has not been allowed to see a dentist though he has requested multiple times,” Seyfert’s lawyer Hussain Shakeeb told the Maldives Independent.
Shakeeb also alleged Seyfert was not notified of the reason for his arrest in early January.
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