An individual from Alifu Alifu atoll Thoddoo, has been convicted of theft and fined MVR21,600 for stealing a water meter from a house in Male'.

According to the case filed by the Prosecutor General’s Office, the man stole the water meter from M. Maakolhuge at around 4pm on April 16.

He pleaded guilty at the preliminary hearing, and the Criminal Court found him guilty based on his confession.

The court initially sentenced him to three months and 18 days in prison after considering the circumstances of the case.

However, as he is employed and had requested that the prison sentence be replaced with a fine, the court commuted the sentence to a fine in accordance with the Penal Code and Supreme Court rules.

Criminal Court Chief Judge Adam Mohamed ordered the man to pay MVR21,600 in lieu of the prison sentence.

The fine must be paid to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within 12 months from October 1.

The court warned that if the fine is not paid within the stipulated period, he will have to serve the original prison sentence.