The Criminal Court has ruled that the request by the Maldives Police Service (MPS) seeking to remand Aswan Mohamed, who was being sought by Interpol through a red notice in connection with a case of violence inside the Cibo road in the capital Malé City back in 2022, was wrong.

In its verdict, the court noted that when Aswan was first arrested and presented for a remand hearing in 2023, he was released due to lack of evidence in the case against him.

However, following an appeal by the Prosecutor General's Office (PG Office) to the High Court in 2023, the High Court overturned the Criminal Court's decision.

The High Court ordered that if a new remand hearing is requested for Aswan, a decision should be made.

Aswan is suspected of being involved in the case of a gang violence that occurred back in 2022.

MPS issued an Interpol Red Notice to locate him in connection with the case, back then.

Two more individuals were arrested alongside Aswan in connection with the case; Mohamed Sibthu Abdulla, 19 and Mohamed Ahsam, 26.

They returned to Maldives after being deported from Thailand where they had been in hiding.

According to the court order, when Aswan was first arrested and presented for a remand hearing last year, he was released due to lack of sufficient evidence against him.

When the suspects were brought to court for a remand hearing, the court ordered Aswan's release and the detention of Sibthu and Ahsam until the end of their trial.