Only MVR 700,000 recovered from stolen MVR 5 mln

Police revealed on Thursday that from the MVR 5 million stolen through various high-scale thefts in greater Male' region, only MVR 700,000 has been retrieved.

During a press conference, Police stated that the recovered money was from the MVR 2.3 million stolen from Ensis Fisheries Company.

Although several arrests have been made in connection to the Ensis case and MVR 1.3 million stolen from BHM, some have now been released.

Department Head of Serious and Organised Crimes Superintendent Hassaan Shifaau stated that four males between 19 to 23-years old and one 24-year-old female were arrested in relation to the Ensis robbery.

The funds were stolen while it was being loaded into a company van after withdrawing from the Mauritius Commercial Bank branch in reclaimed suburb Hulhumale.

The female arrested in relation to the case is a former employee of Mauritius Bank.

Two of the arrested attacked the Ensis employees and remain in custody. Meanwhile, the remaining people aided in carrying out the robbery and have now been released according to Shifaau.

"Investigations have shown that planning of the robbery took place in the apartment of the 24-year-old,"

He also revealed that all four males arrested in relation to the case have criminal records.

Addressing the BHM theft, Shifaau stated that six have been arrested in relation to the case.

Four helmet-clad men on bikes attacked a BHM staff with pepper spray.

According to the Police, two underage boys who had attempted to tamper with the evidence were arrested but later released by Juvenile Court due to lack of evidence.

Another four helmet-clad perpetrators stole over MVR 2 million from MIFCO on March 20. The money was stolen from a company van. It was revealed that a 23-year-old and 19-year old involved have now been arrested.

Chief Inspector of Police Izmiya Zahir stated that during the past three months, 113 cases of mugging were reported to Police. These include two cases from both Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Gaafu Alif Atoll and Addu Atoll, and one case from Meemu Atoll and Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.

Izmiya noted that most of the cases reported did not involve weapons, but were connected to snatching of items like mobile phones.