Top counsel Faena released after husband takes responsibility for drugs

The Criminal Court on Wednesday ordered the release of Senior State Counsel Faena Fayyaz, a senior lawyer at the Attorney General’s Office and head of the Civil Rights Office, after her husband took responsibility for the drugs discovered in their apartment.

Faena and her husband Ahmed Azhad were arrested on Tuesday night following a police search of their Raincrest apartment in Hulhumalé under a court warrant issued as part of a drug operation.

A court hearing was held on Wednesday to decide on their remand.According to a reliable source, the court ordered Faena’s release on conditions after Azhad accepted responsibility for the narcotics recovered from the premises.

“Faena was released on conditions, with Azhad taking responsibility for the items found in the apartment,” a source told Atoll Times on condition of anonymity.

Azhad was remanded in custody, though the duration of his detention has not been confirmed.

During the police operation, authorities found 33 grams of drugs in the apartment — an amount classified under drug trafficking offences — along with cash and a knife believed to have been used in the handling of drugs.

The Maldives Police Service has not yet commented on the remand decision or released an official statement identifying the suspects.

Faena has worked at the Attorney General’s Office for 12 years and also serves as the head of the Human Rights and International Affairs Division. She was appointed head of the Civil Rights Office on 26 November 2023, following the current government’s assumption of office.