One arrested after Umrah pilgrims left stranded at airport

48 Umrah pilgrims under the charge of Askoi Hajj Umrah Group were left stranded at the airport with fraudulent tickets last Monday afternoon.

Maldives Police Service has arrested one suspect in connection with the case.

MPS issued a statement last Monday night in which it said the investigation so far has uncovered evidence Askoi Hajj Umrah Group paid money to Samha Group International Private Limited to purchase tickets for the pilgrims.

Samha Group paid the money to DB Travels Private Limited, and a staff at the DB Travels Private Limited issued 168 fraudulent tickets.

The suspect, the staff at the DB Travels Private Limited was arrested by the authorities from the Gan International Airport attempting to flee the country, reports MPS.