Man who defrauded MVR 300,000 sentenced to one year in prison

Criminal Court has sentenced a man who defrauded a huge sum of money from three people under the pretense of advance payment to rent an apartment in Male’ City.

As per the charge sheet, Abdulla Husham, MA. Bulaashamge, K. Male’, at the end of 2015, acquired MVR 100,000 as advance payment from a prospective tenant under the pretense of renting the second apartment on the second floor of MA. Bulaashamge for MVR 200,000 for a period of seven years and had not handed over the apartment.

Ten days later, he acquired MVR 150,000 as advance payment from a second prospective tenant under the pretense of renting the same apartment for MVR 350,000 for a period of seven years. He also acquired USD 6,485, which is approximately MVR 100,000, as advance payment for the apartment from a third prospective apartment.

Husham was charged with embezzlement in connection to defrauding MVR 350,000 from tenants under the pretense of advance payment to rent the apartment.

He denied the charge during trial, citing he had not collected the money with the intention of embezzlement. However, he did not produce any evidence in his defense,

All three people who paid the advance payment gave testimony during the trial.

As Husham had committed a crime that is ranked fourth in terms of criminal severity, he faced a prison sentence of one year, seven months and six days. He requested that he only receive a fine as punishment citing family responsibilities and the fact that he had returned the money to the parties involved in the case.

Criminal Court sentenced Husham to one year, seven months, and six days. He was also fined by MVR 115,200, which he is to pay to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MMA) within six months from the date of the ruling.

Fraud has become a prevalent issue in the Maldivian society where culprits use various tactics to defraud people of money.