3 additional suspects arrested for MVR 4.2 million snatch theft attempt

The police have arrested three additional suspects in connection to the attempt to steal over MVR 4.2 million in cash transported for deposit by local tobacco distributor Root to Bank of Ceylon (BOC) in Male’.

A police spokesperson identified the three additional suspects as a 20-year-old Maldivian male, a 21-year-old Maldivian male, and a 30-year-old Maldivian male.

All three were remanded in custody of the police in a facility determined by the Home Ministry for 15 days when presented before the court for their remand hearings.

The robbery attempt had taken place at approximately 11:40 am on Sunday, October 25. The robbers – four men wearing masks and helmets - came on two motorcycles and closed in on the van transporting the money as it parked in front of the bank. The robbery was foiled with the quick intervention of a security guard and Root’s staffers involved in the transport of the money.

The police had previously arrested four men who they believe were actively involved in the robbery. They are:

• Ahmed Ameer, 20, Pink Villa, Vilimale’
• Mohamed Mus’ab Zubair, 23, Caneermaage, G. A. Vilingili
• Hussain Abdul Majeed, 22, Dhafthar no. 3648
• Abdulla Rashid, 27, Keemiyage, Thundi, L. Gan

They too, have been remanded in custody of the police for 15 days.

The police said all four suspects have prior records for theft, armed robbery, assault, and drug offenses.

The case is under investigation by the Serious and Organized Crime Department.

The robbery attempt was caught on CCTV camera.

The money, packed in a cardboard box, was transported to the bank on a van. CCTV footage shows four men wearing dark clothing, masks and helmets, close in on the as it parks in front of the bank, before attacking staffers from Root and attempting to snatch the cardboard box.

The robbers took the cardboard box containing the money after dragging a female staffer out of the van. She sprayed body spray at the robbers in an attempt to impede their movement. As the robbers attempt to flee with the box, a security guard rushes out of the bank and confiscates the box from them, and a staffer from Root wearing a company t-shirt attempts to secure the box.

Root has rewarded the security guard who intervened to foil the robbery with MVR 50,000, and three of their staffers with MVR 10,000.