Police release identities of suspects in MVR 4.2 million snatch theft attempt

The police have released the identities of four men believed to have been involved an attempt to steal over MVR 4.2 million in cash transported for deposit by Root - a large-scale distributor of tobacco products - to Bank of Ceylon (BOC) in Male’.

The robbery attempt had taken place at approximately 11:40 am on Sunday, October 25, and was foiled with the quick intervention of a BOC security guard and Root’s staffers involved in the transport of the money.

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 long-sleeved black shirts and jeans, as well as 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.

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

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

They were remanded in custody of the police for 15 days when presented before the Criminal Court for their remand hearings.

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

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