Police stated that the man who assaulted two airline staff members this morning was presented at Hulhumale' Magistrate Court for his remand hearing. The Court then ruled that the man be released, after stipulating some conditions.
Hulhumale' Magistrate Court has released the foreigner arrested this morning for assault against two airline employees at the Departure Terminal of Velana International Airport.
Police stated that the man was presented at Hulhumale' Magistrate Court for his remand hearing. The Court then ruled that the man be released, after stipulating some conditions.
Details of the conditions he was given have not been revealed so far.
Witnesses state that the altercation occurred after the man got upset over being asked to pay for excess baggage. A witness told Mihaaru that when first told that his luggage exceeded the baggage allowance and he would need to pay for the excess kilos, the man became belligerent and began yelling at the employees of the airline.
His luggage was then removed from the belt once he refused payment, and the altercation became more heated.
"Another person there then went to find security personnel. That's when the man followed him and hit him," the witness said.
Mihaaru reports that the foreigner holds an American passport and was scheduled to fly to Abu Dhabi.
A video of the altercation has been circulating on social media. As seen in the footage, the passenger hits one airline employee across his head, and then turns around and assaults another staff member who attempts to intervene.
Airport security staff and other people in the vicinity are seen trying subdue the passenger. Near the end of the footage, a civilian man is seen to be walking away, taking with him the passenger in question. Police made the arrest following these events.
Editor's Note: This article previously read that the Criminal Court released the foreigner. Police have since publicly clarified that the man was taken to the Hulhumale' Magistrate Court, and not the Criminal Court.
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