Two foreigners worked as journalists on tourist VISA deported

The two foreigners that were working in Maldives as journalists on tourist VISA violating the immigration law, has been deported.

Police arrested a Polish national, lwira Magdalena Srescezik and an Italian national, Santarosa Francesco with European Journalist Legitimation press cards while covering the event of the opposition coalition near the MDP campaign hall on Wednesday night.

After it was confirmed that they were working as journalists on tourist VISA, they were arrested by the Police last night and made a court appearance on Thursday.

The court however ordered their release and was transferred to the custody of the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

Spokesperson of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Hassan Khaleel told Sun Media today that the two foreigners were deported last night with a ban on visiting the Maldives for a specific period of time.

Article 10-A of the Immigration Law bans anyone who enters the Maldives on a tourist VISA from working/or be employed. Article 613 of the new penal code states that doing something that requires a permit from a state entity without the permit of the said entity is a crime.