Criminal Court has extended the remand of the bus driver that ran over and killed a Ukrainian tourist on Monday morning, by seven days.

While he was initially given a three-day remand on Tuesday, this expired on Thursday.

The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) bus driver is to have fallen asleep behind the wheel while driving in Hulhumalé early Monday morning, which led to the tragic death of a 31-year-old Ukrainian tourist.

Her body has since been handed over to her family, who arrived in the Maldives on Wednesday.

MTCC is to cover all expenses in the case, including her transfer back home.

There have been complaints of safety issues on the MTCC-operated buses, with increased reports of speeding and reckless driving.

While the company denies that their drivers “are overworked,” a second accident involving an MTCC bus occurred on Thursday.

According to reports, he had fallen asleep on the job as well.