"Was Torture": Ex-French Spy Who Helped Dubai Princess Escape Blames India

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
intelligence officer who helped Dubai princess Sheikha Latifa escape from the UAE has now lodged a case with the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI), alleging that India violated diplomatic conventions when it helped Emirati officials take the 33- year-old royal back
home.Ms Latifa had escaped earlier this year alleging that her father, the Prime Minister of UAE Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Saeed Al
Maktoum, was torturing her and keeping her in confinement.62-year-old Herve Jaubert, who is now an American national, says that on March 4
when they were about to reach India via the Goa coast, the Indian coast guard surrounded them and went on to attack them before handing them
over to officials from the UAE."I saw an Indian navy plane and warships everywhere,'' he said describing what happened during the escape
bid, in an interview to from London.Mr Jaubert and the princess were accompanied by a crew of four others on his yacht Nostromo which is
registered in the US
Apparently, the princess had been in touch with him since 2010 because he had also made his escape from Dubai after falling out with local
authorities in 2008.Dubai princess Sheikha Latifa has accused her father, the Prime Minister of UAE, of tortureIncidentally, even at that
time, Mr Jaubert who quit the French secret service in 1993, had taken a boat to Mumbai but this time things took an ugly turn."It was pure
attack by India
It was military style
It was brutal,'' he said
"I was beaten, the crew beaten after we anchored
It was torture
I had blood from my head, I still have injuries
I thought I was going to die!''Responding to about how he was sure that India was behind the attack when they were taken back to UAE from
there, he said that he saw the Indian sign on the ships and a ship numbered 11."We have electronic evidence about India's role which we will
be presenting at the right time.'' Princess Latifa and I had visas for India, he said, and planned to fly to the US from Goa on March 5.The
crew and Princess Latifa were then taken back to the UAE where they were jailed for two weeks before being let go
"I have no idea about her safety or how she is,'' said Mr Jaubert.India's foreign ministry and the coast guard have so far not spoken about
these allegations
Diplomats however point out that they are not surprised.Former envoy to the UAE Talmiz Ahmed told that India was right in sending the
princess back
"Whether they had a visa or not, that route is not appropriate
So, India's action is correct.'' When asked about the alleged physical violence, he said they were "loose remarks about which there was no
evidence".