The former French spy and the current USA native, Herve Jaubert’s botched up attempt at rescuing the current ruler of Dubai’s daughter, Sheikha Latifa has stirred another international controversy. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Saeed Al Maktoum’s 33-year old daughter, Sheikha Latifa was allegedly rescued by James Bond of the current era; Herve Jaubert. But, unfortunately, the yacht was recovered on the Goan waters, raising doubts over India’s participation in the plan.
Herve was accused of embezzling from Exemos, a subsidiary company of Dubai World and was also accused of sexual harassment. Before being convicted for his alleged wrongdoings, Herve disguised himself as a Muslim woman, rowed up till a rendezvous point, where he and his accomplice set sails for India. They reached Mumbai at 2 am and then boarded a plane to the US. The international controversy stirred up by Herve, drew the United Arabs Emirates, India and the United States of America in a tight and an uncomfortable situation.
33-year-old Sheikha Latifa had claimed on a video (which went viral), that she was being beaten and mistreated. The video also expressed her desire to flee to the United States of America and gain freedom. Being an emotional video, it sparked a debate on how one of the most important woman in the United Arabs Emirates was being treated.
Herve, being a savior of damsels in distress, formulated a brilliant plan to save the Princess. He packed off Latifa and her companion along with a martial arts instructor, Tiina, into Nostromo, which is a US based yacht. The coordinates of the yacht indicated that it was on its way to India, maybe to board a flight from Mumbai, just like Herve had done.
An SOS from Latifa on March 4, claimed that gunshots were heard on the yacht, but the source could not be found out. The yacht got lost mid-sea, and tracking it became impossible. Contacts from the yacht also ceased after the SOS. Later, the Nostromo was discovered by the UAE military in the Goan waters, raising the question of India’s participation in the rescue plan. The yacht was then brought to the UAE military base, where it was last seen.
Herve and Tiina have been released from the UAE's custody and Tiina has been sent to Finland to her family on an Emirates flight. The obvious question that remains is "what will happen to Sheikha Latifa, who wanted to seek safety and asylum in the USA?"
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