Police say the court has extended the remand custody period for two elderly locals apprehended last month on suspicion of human trafficking.
Police had arrested 65-year-old Mohamed Waheed of H. Sea Speed and 55-year-old Moosa Fathuhee of Addu Hitadhoo in a case that involves several locals and foreigners.
Authorities had also apprehended another foreigner and a local policeman and both suspects are still under custody.
Criminal Court had extended the remand period for both suspects at a hearing held yesterday as the previous 15 days it had given for both had expired yesterday.
Speaking at yesterday's hearing, Waheed said that he was an elderly person with underlying health conditions and that he was not getting sufficient treatment.
He added that prison was not for someone like him and requested the court to release him on such grounds.
Police had said that they were able to recover substantial evidence from Waheed's phone including communications between alleged victims of human trafficking and assured that the suspect was getting the treatment he needs.
Human trafficking remains a huge problem that plagues Maldivian society with the country having one of the worst human trafficking records in the region.
