Cricket coach accused of sexual crimes remanded in custody for 10 days

The Criminal Court of the Maldives has issued a detention order of 10 days for the former national cricket team coach Asif Khan who is under investigation for sexual harassment of multiple children and young adults.

Asif was remanded in custody after being brought to the Court on Friday. He was rearrested on Thursday after he initially walked free from jail the next day after his first arrest on October 6, when the police failed to present him in front of a judge within the mandatory 24 hours for his remand hearing.

Asif Khan, 46 – a South African citizen of Pakistani descent – was intercepted by the police and arrested from Velana International Airport on his way to board a plan out of Maldives on October 6.

The Criminal Court has also imposed a 30-day travel ban on Asif Khan to prevent him from leaving the Maldives.

The victims and their families have accused the Pakistani Embassy of efforts to obstruct the criminal investigation into Asif Khan – accusations that have been refuted by the Pakistani Embassy which says it is not associated with him in any way.