Police recover MVR 1.6m stolen from a bank account

The police have arrested three suspects in connection to the theft of MVR 1.8 million from the bank account of an individual, and recovered nearly all of the stolen funds.

In a press briefing held by the Economic Crimes Department on Monday, Superintendent of Police Abdulla Rasheed said that the authorities have recovered 98 percent of the MVR 1.8 million stolen from a private bank account.

Four people are suspected of being involved in the crime; a 24-year-old man, a 24-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man, and a 16-year-old.

All suspects, except for the minor, are now in police custody.

Inspector of Police Mariyam Rasheeda told reporters that the funds were stolen from an account opened at the Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB). She said that the police recovered MVR 1.6 million within 48 hours after the case was reported.

Mariyam said that investigators also recovered goods worth MVR 200,000 that was purchased using the stolen money. She said that with the money found in the bank accounts of the suspects as well as from their residences, the police have recovered total MVR 1.67 million in stolen funds.

According to the police, the money stolen from the victim was found in the accounts of all three adult suspects.

The suspects also transferred the stolen money to other bank accounts, took some of the money out in cash, and also laundered it by making various purchases.

The case against the three adult suspects has been sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office for criminal charges.