One of the two employees of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) arrested for trying to smuggle 4.5 kg of drugs at Velana International Airport (VIA) was released by the Criminal Court yesterday.

On March 15 this year, a Pakistani man, two MACL employees and the person who was going to hand over the luggage were arrested for possession of heroin and meth.

They were presented to the Criminal Court yesterday for a remand extension hearing, where the main suspect and the senior MACL staff, HDh. Kulhudhuffushi, Fehialige, Ali Hussain was released.

At the hearing held yesterday, the Prosecutor General's Office requested that Ali Hussain be remanded in custody until the end of the trial. However, the court decided to release him on certain conditions.

The judge said that while the police submitted sufficient evidence against him, there was no grounds to keep him detained, as there was no evidence to suggest he poses a threat to society.

Ali Hussain was released on condition that he obtain written permission from the court if he goes out of the city, not commit any further offences, appear at the time directed by the court and have no contact or communication with any evidence in the case.