Ahmed Fairish, who was transferred to the Kaafu Himmafushi Rehabilitation Centre after being arrested over complaints of harassing and insulting neighbours, has been found and arrested in Male'.

Police said Fairish was transferred to the National Drug Agency (NDA) headquarters in Himmafushi yesterday. Police received information about his escape later that day.

He was found and arrested in Male' today, police said.

Fairish was arrested on 18 October for intimidation, property damage, fighting and obstructing police duty. He was subsequently produced before the Criminal Court, which ordered him to be remanded in custody for 15 days.

The case gained public attention after Mohamed Saeed, a resident of the neighborhood, went on hunger strike over what he said was the authorities’ failure to act on complaints against Fairish.

Saeed said he had submitted complaints to several institutions but no action had been taken. He alleged that Fairish had been harassing residents in the area around H. Kashimaa Hingun and Dhoohimeri Magu for an extended period.

Several complaints alleging harassment by Fairish, including incidents involving pedestrians and motorists, have been lodged with police over the past 18 months