A 19-year-old man has been arrested and remanded in custody for five days after climbing onto the roof of the Saudi Embassy building in Malé.
The Criminal Court ordered the remand to allow police to continue their investigation. The court order said police submitted CCTV footage showing the youth climbing the building as evidence.
The Saudi Embassy currently operates from a building near the Hulhumalé ferry terminal in the capital. The premises previously housed the Foreign Ministry before its permanent building was renovated. The structure was later used as a temporary site for Arabiyya School before the embassy moved in.
During a closed court session, the young man said he did not know the building housed the Saudi Embassy. He said there was no visible sign identifying the embassy. A Saudi flag flies at the front of the building. Critics say the building’s length and its sea-facing rear meant the flag might not have been visible from where the youth climbed.
The youth told the court he went onto the roof to take a photograph. He said he climbed down within about 10 minutes after deciding it was not appropriate to be there. He apologised for the incident. Court documents show he has no prior criminal record.
The arrest has sparked backlash on social media, with critics saying the response was excessive and warning that the incident risks damaging the young man’s future over what they describe as a harmless act.
Police and the Saudi Embassy have not commented on the matter.