Egyptian tourist remanded for joking about having a bomb at VIA

An Egyptian tourist has been arrested at Velana International Airport (VIA) and remanded for five days after joking that his aunt’s bag contained a bomb during security screening.

Police identified the suspect as Peter Saman Marzouk Saman, 38, an Egyptian national. According to the arrest warrant, he is being investigated for intimidation and giving false information.

Intimidation and dissemination of false information are offences under both the Penal Code of Maldives and the Prohibition of Intimidation and Possession of Dangerous Weapons and Sharp Objects Act.  

Under Section 4 of the latter Act, threatening a person with death or serious bodily harm is a serious criminal offence, punishable with six to 18 months in jail.  

The Penal Code further defines intimidation under Section 120, while Article 520 criminalizes spreading false news or providing false information.

According to the arrest warrant, the suspect made the bomb remark when airport officers attempted to check his aunt’s bags, a claim documented in both the Aviation Security Command incident report and the police incident report.

He told the court he had made the comment as a joke and apologized.  

However, the court ruled that such remarks are unacceptable in a high-security environment like an airport, and ordered him detained for community safety. The court also noted that, as a foreign national, there was a risk he might flee if released.

The case is under further investigation by the Maldives Police Service.

Airports treat any bomb-related comment as a full security threat, even if the person claims it was a joke. There is zero tolerance worldwide, and VIA follows the same international aviation security standards.