The unlicensed rider who was involved in the fatal road accident on the day of Eid-Al-Adha, has been remanded.

The 22-year-old who was riding the motorcycle that crashed against Ali Hafeez, who was left critically injured in the collision, was arrested under a court order on Monday.

Upon being presented to the Criminal Court for his remand hearing, the motorcyclist was given a 15-day remand period on Tuesday.

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) revealed that the 22-year-old did not have a license on him when the accident occurred.

At a time the police institution has come under fire for delaying the motorcyclist’s arrest, MPS has said that his arrest was delayed as he too had sustained serious injuries in the crash and was undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Critically injured and still receiving treatment in connection with the collision is Lecturer at the Maldives National University (MNU), Ali Hafeez who was exiting the mosque near the Heenaamaage parking zone after Fajr prayer, when he was hit by the unlicensed rider.

Eye witnesses at the scene reported that the motorcyclist was speeding and that on impact, Hafeez was thrown off to a long distance.

Hafeez was initially treated in the ADK Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and has since been airlifted to neighboring India for further treatment to critical injuries attained in the crash.

Due to his critical condition not giving way for him to be flown on a commercial flight, Hafeez was airlifted onboard an air ambulance.