A man has been arrested after a fire at an empty house in Male' on Wednesday (March 18).

Police said Hussain Shahban, 29, was arrested under a court order. He is believed to be the man seen entering Galolhu Hiyaa Roadhi house a few minutes before the fire.

He was remanded in custody for five days when summoned to the court. He also requested access to a lawyer.

A CCTV video footage near the house shows a man parking a motorcycle and entering the house. He had black sunglasses and a white and black shirt.

The house owner, Adam Saleem, told Adhadhu that he could not say whether the fire was deliberate or caused by negligence.

But he raised suspicions because a man had entered the empty house a few minutes before the fire.

The four-storey house was burnt to the ground. The house caught fire while renovations were underway.