The Egyptian man who was detained and held in custody after making a joke about a bomb in a bag at Velana International Airport (VIA) has been released following a request from the Egyptian government and has returned to his home country.

Peter Samaan Marzouk Samaan, 38 years old, was the person taken into custody in this matter. Reports indicate he is a physician from Egypt and was in the Maldives on holiday with his family.

He was taken into custody after his sister’s bag was being checked in the airport’s departure section when he reportedly claimed there was a bomb inside it.

The man was detained for declaring something at the airport that might instill fear in the public. After his arrest, he expressed remorse and claimed he was just joking.

He also expressed regret when he appeared before the Criminal Court for a remand hearing.

The court, however, placed him in custody for five days on the grounds of intimidation and supplying false information.

Subsequently, the Egyptian government took action.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry collaborated with its embassy in Sri Lanka to secure the release of Peter Samaan Marzouk Samaan from incarceration, and he has now been released.

Egyptian media outlets cited Egypt's Foreign Ministry, indicating that Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs and Egyptians Abroad, Haddad Abdel-Tawab al-Gohary, contacted the Director of the Consular Department at the Maldives Foreign Ministry, urging that the doctor be treated with respect and released from prison promptly.

Consequently, the Foreign Ministry stated that the Maldivian government freed the doctor due to the strong diplomatic ties between the nations.