Authorities in the Maldives have apprehended a 38-year-old foreign national in connection with an ongoing human trafficking investigation. The Criminal Court has ordered the suspect to be remanded in custody for a period of 15 days as the probe continues.

According to court documents released on Sunday night, the suspect has been identified as Mohammed Monser Ali, a Bangladeshi national. The allegations suggest that Ali held several individuals for a period of three months under the false pretense of providing them with employment opportunities within a local guesthouse. While the suspect’s involvement has been noted, the specific number and nationalities of the victims have not yet been disclosed by the authorities.

The court’s remand order further highlighted that Ali was allegedly operating outside the scope of his authorized work permit. Additionally, the presiding judge noted a significant risk of the suspect exerting influence over the victims, given the degree of control he previously held over them. This potential for witness intimidation was cited as a primary reason for the 15-day detention period.

This case emerges amid a broader crackdown on crimes involving the expatriate community. In a separate incident reported last March, a group of foreign nationals was accused of kidnapping another expatriate; four suspects in that case were remanded in custody pending trial just yesterday.