Attempted MVR 4 million root theft: MVR 49,000 fine imposed

Criminal Court has sentenced one of the robbers with a fine of MVR 49,000. The individual was one of many who attempted to deposit MVR 4 million, stolen from the Root tobacco shop, to the Bank of Ceylon (BoC).

The theft took place on 25th October 2020, with four individuals on two motorcycles wearing helmets attempting to deposit MVR 4.2 million into BoC. The attempt was thwarted by a bank security guard.

The prosecution on of the arrested  charged Mohamed Azmeen, R. Rasmaadhoo with taking part in a robbery. He had been charged after he had rented a room in a Male' guesthouse for those who were involved in the theft, prepping the motorcycles used for the crime and for surveilling the vehicle used for transporting the money.

Two motorcycles used in the robbery had stickers with different plate numbers on them, with the prosecution stating that a fingerprint taken from the rear number plate matching Azmeen's fingerprint. 

The Criminal Court's sentence on Thursday reads that the evidence and proof submitted by the prosecution proved the charges against Azmeen.

The legal punishment for the crime is a prison sentence of one year and seven months. However, as Azmeen has been imprisoned for 11 months, the rest of the duration had been annulled. Azmeen's defense requested a fine in place of the annulled prison sentence, with him being fined MVR 49,000. Judge Aminath Azlifa's sentence read that he is to pay the fine to the state within three months.

Seven people had been arrested in the attempted Root heist. Four of them had signed a plea agreement, with them having been sentenced to two years in prison by the Criminal Court.