Charges filed against 5 accused of stealing MVR 4M from Nalahiya apartment

Combined photos of four of five suspects arrested in connection with the theft of MVR 4 million from an apartment in Nalahiya Residence. (Photo/Maldives Police Service)

The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has filed charges against five people accused of stealing nearly MVR 4 million from an apartment at the Nalahiya Residence in Male’ City.

The crime took place at the Nalahiya Residence, an apartment building located in Maafannu district of Male’, at around 09:02 pm on March 15.

In a statement on Saturday, the PGO said it filed charges with the Criminal Court against five suspects on June 25. They are:

Ahmed Faris, M. Asia, K. Male’
Jazeel Mohamed, Jazeela Manzil, HDh. Nolhivaranfaru
Ismail Asif, Daarul Awwal, R. Maduvvari
Mohamed Afrah, Moonlight Villa, S. Meedhoo
Mohamed Noor Ahmed, Kasthoorimaage, Lh. Naifaru

The five are accused of breaking into two money safes at an apartment in the building, and stealing MVR 3,992,000 in cash. The police announced in April that they recovered MVR 50,000 in stolen money.

Jazeel Mohamed, 47, Jazeela Manzil, HDh. Nolhivaranfaru, who was arrested in connection with the MVR 4 million theft from a apartment in Nalahiyaa Residence. (Photo/Maldives Police Service)

All five have been charged with knowingly exerting unauthorized control over the property of another under Section 211 (a) of the Penal Code.

The offense carries a mandatory sentence of three years, two months and 12 days in prison.

Meanwhile, Faris, Jazeel and Noor were also pressed with two additional charges; criminal trespass under Section 230 (a) of the Penal Code, and criminal property damage under Section 220 (a) of the Penal Code for trespassing into the apartment and damaging the bedroom doors and the two safes.

Both offenses carry a mandatory sentence of four months and 24 days in prison.

The PGO said it has also asked the court to order the suspects to compensate for the money they allegedly stole.