Businessman Dominic Hadeed and his wife, Genevieve Hadeed, will remain in prison after the Court of Appeal tonight ruled that the interim stay granted on Thursday will remain in force while the State pursues an appeal to the Privy Council.

In a unanimous decision, Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh and Justices of Appeal Mark Mohammed and Ricky Rahim dismissed the Hadeeds' application to discharge the stay, ruling that the balance of justice favoured keeping the couple in custody until the Privy Council considers the matter.

Delivering the ruling, the court said it was required to weigh the competing consequences of either course of action.