Criminal Court has set 15 days as remand for former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor.
Adeeb was arrested early Sunday morning for fleeing the country after a travel ban was imposed on him by the Supreme Court.
The former vice president was detained in Tuticorin, India after he attempted to enter the country via sea route after fleeing Maldives. Indian authorities handed Adeeb over to Maldivian authorities, who transported him back to Maldives.
Although Adeeb was presented to Criminal Court to decide on his remand upon his arrival in Maldives late Sunday night, the Criminal Court ordered his immediate release citing that the police had not followed procedure in arresting Adeeb.
However, the police obtained a new arrest warrant from the Criminal Court and arrested Adeeb once again early on Monday morning after which he was taken to Dhoonidhoo Prison.
Adeeb was released after his initial arrest as police had failed to act according to the international law applicable under the circumstance of his arrest, the 'Flag State Law'.
According to the law, flag state of a merchant vessel is the jurisdiction under whose laws the vessel is registered or licensed, and is deemed the nationality of the vessel. The flag state has the authority and responsibility to enforce regulations over vessels registered under its flag.
Maldives police confirmed that the vessel had an Indian flag and was not registered in the Maldives. Therefore, Maldives police had no authority to arrest Adeeb on international waters, which prompted his release.
Criminal Court has set 15 days as remand for former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor - Photo: AVAS
