Police arrest five over 1.5 million robbery case

A group of five people have been arrested for breaking into a private company's office in the capital city Male and stealing MVR 1.5 million.

This happened on April 1st. The robbery took place when a group entered the Alihava Trading Company on the eighth floor of the Alihava Building in Haveeree street, Maafannu ward.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Ahmed Shifan told Atoll Times on Sunday that five men ranging in ages between 31 and 38 were arrested in connection with the theft.

Shifan also said two of them have now been released leaving only three people in custody.

He also said the stolen money is yet to be recovered.

The Criminal Court on Thursday extended the remand of 33-year-old Abdullah Jameel, Handhuvareege/A.A.Mathiveri to 15 days.

"The IO [Investigative Officer] notes that MVR 1.5 million was stolen in this case. It was an organised, planned and multi-faceted crime," Criminal Court Judge Ibrahim Zihuny wrote in his remand order for Jameel, who has a criminal record.

Jameel was convicted of possession of liquor in April 2018 and fined MVR 1,000 in February. He was convicted in December 2021 of invalid bank transactions and sentenced to one year in jail in January this year. He did not appear at the trial, and police then released his identity to the public, making him a wanted man.