Aishath Easha Ashraf, who has held high-ranking roles in the President’s Office and various ministries, was denied the chance to defend herself during the inquiry related to the documentary aired by the online newspaper Adhadhu, her attorneys stated on Wednesday.

Easha arrived at the Sergeant Adam Haleem Criminal Investigation Building in Male' City on Wednesday, following her summons to the Hulhumale' Police Station on Tuesday night.

The summons sent to Easha claims that she took part in creating a documentary purportedly made against President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

Following the police interrogation, former Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem, representing Easha, informed the media that officers posed just three questions while obtaining her statement. He did not reveal the specific questions but mentioned that Easha refuted all three.

“They are claiming qazf.” We requested them to specify: against whom? "The police did not respond to that inquiry,” he stated.

"When we requested a chance to speak in our defense, they denied us the opportunity." “They completely denied us the opportunity to defend ourselves,” Shameem stated.

Shameem stated that the police admitted in their written statement that Easha was not afforded the chance to defend herself. Concurrently, law enforcement notified them that her testimony in this inquiry was now deemed finalized.

Easha has been called for the second time. On Tuesday, Shameem went with her to the Phase I Hulhumale' Police Station, where she faced questioning. In a media interview later, Shameem stated that he considered Easha to be the “victim” in the situation and mentioned he would provide the complete context after delivering a formal statement.

Shameem stated that he tried to clarify to investigators that Easha was the victim, but they did not permit him to do so.

“Yesterday, I mentioned that I think our client is a victim in this situation.” Textbooks also clarify the concept of being a victim. The abuser primarily engages in several actions toward the victim: psychological manipulation, isolation, fostering dependency—both emotional and financial, intimidation, threats, and leveraging power dynamics, he stated.

Despite police not permitting a defense statement, Shameem stated he plans to deliver the complete narrative during the investigation phase and will prove with evidence who the “victim” is by the time the case goes to trial.

“Currently, the police are charging Easha as the one responsible,” he stated.

Shameem stated he does not think the government would get involved in the investigation. Nonetheless, he stated that he was unable to identify whose influence stopped specific statements from being expressed.

“I don't believe that, particularly a government, would affect a police department.” My heart disagrees. I did observe that certain types of conversations were prohibited. “Therefore, I’m unsure about who had an influence or who did not,” he stated.

Authorities are regarding the situation as a significant inquiry. Easha's passport has been confiscated for three months by a Criminal Court directive, indicating that authorities acquired information implying she was trying to leave the country.

Authorities have initiated a significant inquiry into the documentary itself. Following a court directive, authorities conducted a search of the Adhadhu office, confiscating a significant amount of electronic devices and newsroom computer systems for forensic examination.

For the first time in recent history, officers have conducted a raid on a Maldivian media organization's office.

Law enforcement is also pursuing measures against the newspaper's management. The passports of CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa and Managing Editor Hassan Mohamed are being held until July 27. Both were called in and interrogated, and both chose to invoke their right to stay silent.