The Egyptian man that was arrested and remanded in custody after joking that there was a bomb in a bag at Velana International Airport (VIA) has been released upon a request from the Egyptian government and has been flown back to his home nation.

Peter Samaan Marzouk Samaan, 38, was the individual who was arrested in this case. Sources state he is a doctor from Egypt and was in Maldives with his family on vacation.

He was arrested after his sister’s bag was being screened in the airport’s departure area when he allegedly said there was a bomb inside it.

The man was arrested for making a statement at the airport that could cause public fear. Following his arrest, he apologized and said he had been joking.

He also apologized when he was produced before the Criminal Court for a remand hearing.

The court however, remanded him in custody for five days on suspicion of intimidation and providing false information.

The Egyptian government proceeded to step in afterward.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry worked with the Egyptian embassy in Sri Lanka to free Peter Samaan Marzouk Samaan from prison and has since been freed.

Egyptian news media referred to Egypt's Foreign Ministry and reported that Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs and Egyptians Abroad Haddad Abdel-Tawab al-Gohary got in touch with Maldives Foreign Ministry Consular Department's Director and requested the doctor be treated respectfully and to release him from prison as soon as possible.

As a result of these efforts, the Foreign Ministry said the Maldivian government released the doctor through the close diplomatic relationship between the two countries.

After the doctor was taken back to Egypt, Assistant Foreign Minister al-Gohary met with him and his family at the ministry. Peter Samaan's family thanked the ministry and relevant administrations for their efforts during the meeting.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry appealed to their public to obey the laws and rules of the country they travel to.