Man who escaped drug rehabilitation centre recaptured in Malé

Police have recaptured Ahmed Fairish, who escaped from a drug rehabilitation centre in K. Himmafushi after being arrested for allegedly causing repeated disturbances in Malé while under the influence of drugs.

Fairish, 43, escaped from the National Drug Agency (NDA) facility in Himmafushi on Saturday afternoon.

Police confirmed on Sunday that he had been located in Malé and taken back into custody.

No further details were provided about the circumstances of his recapture.

Fairish was initially arrested approximately two weeks ago following complaints that he had repeatedly disturbed members of the public in the areas around Kashima Hingun and Dhoohimeri Magu in Malé.

His arrest followed a protest by Mohamed Saeed, who sought to draw attention to the authorities' failure to take action over Fairish's alleged behaviour.

Police arrested Fairish on 17 October, after which the court ordered him to be detained for 15 days.

He subsequently escaped from the NDA rehabilitation centre in Himmafushi before being located by police in Malé.