Faris remanded to 15 days in detention

Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon has been remanded to 15 days in police custody by Criminal Court.

Faris was arrested last Saturday afternoon for allegations of conspiracy to carry out a coup and bribing a parliamentarian.

His arrest comes just two day after his release from months of detention, last Thursday.

Faris was taken to the Criminal Court for his remand hearing at approximately 7:45 pm on Saturday. Speaking to press outside the court, Faris’ attorney, Maumoon Hameed said the State was portraying the allegations against Faris as major criminal offenses, but that bribery was not categorized a major crime according to the new Criminal Procedure Code.

“It looks like the Prosecutor General just wants to extend the remand, saying whatever necessary,” said Maumoon Hameed.

Faris has already been charged with offering a bribe to a fellow parliamentarian, and is currently in the middle of trial for the allegation.

Faris was originally arrested on July 18, 2017, and was ordered to detention pending the outcome of his trial until the Criminal Court granted him conditional release last Thursday.

Faris’ attorney, Maumoon Hameed said the State prosecution had requested Faris be kept in detention pending the outcome of the trial for the new charges during Saturday’s remand hearing, but that the judge granted 15 days in detention instead.

He said the legal team was preparing to appeal his detention.