Charges have been pressed against eight individuals in relation to the theft of dollars from Velana International Airport (VIA) last year.
The Prosecutor General's Office said today that charges were filed over two days against eight individuals in connection with the case in which BML staff were threatened with a knife and a suitcase containing a large sum of US dollars was stolen while being transported to the BML Dollar Exchange Counter at VIA Terminal 1.
Charges against one were filed on February 8, and the others on February 26.
Police earlier arrested a number of individuals in relation to the theft of USD 130,000 (equivalent to over MVR 2 million). They sent the following names for prosecution:
Ahmed Mahid, Eheevaage, Th. Vilufushi
- Robbery
- Threatening a person with a sharp object
- Carrying a sharp weapon in a public place without justifiable reason
Ali Afzal, Vashagulimaage, S. Hithadhoo
- Robbery
- Threatening a person with a sharp object
Also sent for prosecution for involvement in robbery are:
- Hussain Shahudh, Alhivilaage, K. Guraidhoo
- Mazin Moosa, Reysham, L. Maavah
- Ahmed Raihan Naeem, M. Chorus, Male'
- Ibrahim Anoof, Alhivilaage, K. Guraidhoo
- Ismail Siruhan, Meezaan, R. Maduvvari
- Abdul Awwal Ibrahim AbuBakuru, Binaa, GA. Vilin'gili
The Prosecutor General's Office added that it is requesting the court to order the accused to compensate BML for the financial losses incurred due to the theft.
Masked men had threated two BML staff outside Terminal 1 with knives on the day of the incident, after which they stole the suitcase in which the US dollars were being carried. A getaway speedboat was waiting at the Hulhule' jetty, which then took them to K. Huraa.
The first arrests in the case were made in Huraa. However, with four months having passed since the incident, Police have not yet recovered any of stolen funds.
