Ismail Asif, who has been arrested in connection to the case where MVR 4 million was stolen from an apartment in Nalahiya Residence on Majeedhee Magu, was released from prison after his 10-year prison sentence was commuted by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's government to just five days, Mihaaru News has reported.

The Criminal Court had served Ismail Asif, Daarul Avval / R. Maduvvari with a 10-year prison sentence in September 2022 due to charges against Asif being proven that he had stabbed Ismail Hammad, Fehi Ali / R. Maduvvari with a knife after an altercation occurred while they were on a boat.

As Hammad had been arrested in a 2019 operation in Maduvvari against extremism, it has been made known that the physical altercation that landed him in prison took place after a theft that came to light, specifically regarding him stating that the theft of goods from resorts and some islands are legally acquired as they can be considered spoils of war. This was after he denied taking responsibility for the items he had stolen.

Asif was arrested last year as well, in a case where he had stabbed his brother in the head. The attack happened regarding a dispute over him borrowing MVR 20 from his father, as was told by Maduvvari residents.

Even though Asif was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2022, he was only required to serve 7 years and 3 months after taking into account the duration he was held in remand in custody.

However, it has been made known that before he had served his sentence, he had been released after former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih signed a decree on 19th September 2023 and commuted Asif's sentence to five days. This comes from the power granted to the President under the Clemency Act and the Parole Act.

It was stated that the Criminal Court's sentence was not to be enforced and that Asif's sentence was to be commuted to five days starting from 19th September 2023 under Article 4 (3) of the act.

Asif's recent arrest was due to the theft of MVR 4 million with the help of other individuals. The money was stolen from a safe inside the residence of renowned businessman Ibrahim Ahmed, widely known as 'Maniku Seytu', who happens to be a relative of Asif's.

Asif is believed to have planned the theft in collusion with a group of others. While Ahmed and his family were in Umrah during the last third of Ramadan, Asif had been the only one staying at the home.

A few weeks prior to the theft, Ahmed had arranged a job for Asif as well.

Ahmed has been practicing business in the Maldives on a wide scale for over 40 years. His businesses range from souvenir shops to general goods stores in Male'.

Three others have been arrested alongside Asif. They are:

Police said that the investigation is nearing completion now, and will soon be sent to the Prosecutor General's office for prosecution. Police are still searching for one additional suspect, who has evaded arrest so far.