The Criminal Court has extended the remand of a man accused of stealing a box containing more than MVR 300,000 after it was unloaded from a speedboat at a Male' jetty.

Police arrested Ali Nazim, 44, of Sevenstar, Laamu Mundhoo, earlier this month. His initial 15-day remand expired and the Criminal Court granted a further 15 days in custody yesterday.

However, police have not been able to establish in court that the money recovered from Nazim belonged to the box allegedly stolen from the jetty, according to the court order.

The order said police had submitted evidence against Nazim, including information provided by officers who allegedly saw him handling the box and screenshots from CCTV footage.

According to the order, Nazim allegedly took the luggage from the jetty near the Atolls Parking Zone on Boduthakurufaanu Magu and took the money inside.

Nazim argued that although he was found carrying the luggage, police had not established that it was the box containing the money. He also told the court that he had already provided a statement in the case and requested to be released.

Judge Ibrahim Zihunee however, ordered that Nazim remain in custody for a further 15 days.

Police previously said MVR248,500 and a phone worth MVR7,000, which was allegedly purchased using money from the stolen box, were recovered from Nazim.