Criminal Court on Monday has decided against releasing Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Faris from jail.

He was arrested on the accusation of offering bribes, but was charged under Article 510 (a) of the Penal Code, which refers to the crime of accepting bribes.

Faris’s lawyer Maumoon Hameed highlighted the issue and filed a request with the Criminal Court demanding the MP’s release.

During the bribery trial on Monday, the Judge decided against Faris’ release.

Faris was being detained in accordance with the law and the change of his bribery charges from offering bribes to accepting bribes was also done within the law. Furthermore, the accusation of accepting bribes against Faris can be upheld according to civil guidelines, the court decided.

The court also decided to carry on with the offering bribes charge against Faris. A preliminary hearing on the case will be held on October 24.

Faris was arrested on July 18 and presented to court to determine a remand period on July 19. Faris’ lawyer Maumoon Hameed said charges have not yet been pressed against Faris although the law states that charges should be pressed within 30 days of being kept in remand.