MOSCOW, December 11 (RAPSI) – Lawyers for Roman Seleznev, Russian national who is accused of being a hacker by the U.S. authorities, claimed that American agents who captured their client at Maldives ignored the laws of that country, Associated Press reported on Thursday.

Seleznev’s lawyers postulate that arrest itself was illegal therefore indictment against their client should be dismissed. They said that in accordance with Maldivian law Seleznev had to appear in front of a judge before extradition. However Seleznev was never transferred to local court, upon capture he was immediately handcuffed and transferred to the United States, Associated Press reports.

According to U.S. agents behind Seleznev’s arrest, operation was approved by both American and Maldivian authorities, including latter country’s president. They claim that Maldivian police were not only involved, but were in charge of Seleznev’s arrest and that Russian national was transferred to American custody only after approval by the Maldivian police, Associated Press reported.

Security officer who was coordinating American and Maldives authorities in this operation testified that Seleznev’s arrest was approved by the head of the police force, but the operation itself stalled at a later stage after Maldivian officials demanded additional documents, including Interpol "red notice” against Seleznev. Officer claimed that American agents could get such a notice in some time, but they had to hurry with Seleznev’s transfer to the U.S. because Russian national’s “home country” could interfere, Associated Press reports.

While prosecutors believe that agents’ testimony proves legal status of Seleznev’s arrest, his lawyers claim that law was grossly violated, that actions of the agents amounted to "outrageous government misconduct" and that Seleznev should be released, Associated Press reported.

The 40-count indictment alleges that Seleznev, aka “Track2,” was involved in the theft and sale of more than 2 million credit card numbers.

The indictment charges Seleznev with 11 counts of wire fraud, nine counts of intentional damage to a protected computer, nine counts of obtaining information from a protected computer, nine counts of possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

According to court documents, between October 2009 and October 2013, Seleznev allegedly hacked into retail point of sale systems and installed malicious software to steal credit card numbers from various businesses. He allegedly created and operated the infrastructure to facilitate the theft and sale of credit card data, used servers located all over the world to facilitate his operation, and sold stolen credit card data on the internet.

Seleznev is also charged in a separate indictment in the District of Nevada with participating in a racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO) and conspiracy to engage in a racketeer influenced corrupt organization, as well as two counts of possession of 15 or more counterfeit and unauthorized access devices.