Prison sentence for fraud in payment of rent for two boats

Criminal Court has sentenced an individual to one year in prison for fraud in the payment of rent for two boats leased.

The charge was brought against Ahmed Firaag, Blue Bell, S. Hulhudhoo.

As per the charge sheet, Firaag provided a signed cheque under his name for USD 7,770 from a bank account, also under his name, as payment for two boats he leased; ‘Amaaz’ and ‘Amaaz Crown’. However, the boat owner was notified that there was no money in the bank account when they attempted to cash the cheque.

Firaaq was charged with fraud after failing to pay the boat owner at the end of a seven-day notice period.

In court, Firaaq claimed that the cheque bounced because of delays in receiving an external payment. Firaaq also claimed that he had made payments in installments on multiple occasions since then. However, he noted that the total sum had not been paid off yet. In this regard, he cited MVR 70,000 as the remaining sum, which claimed he was paying.

He denied the fraud charge citing the transfer slips of the payments he had made exist. Criminal Court said no documents proving Firaaq had paid any sum of the USD 7,770 was submitted to the court.

Henceforth, they found him guilty of the fraud charge beyond reasonable doubt.

He was sentenced to one year seven months and six days in prison.