Woman Remanded in Custody for Robbery Involving Over MVR 50,000 in Male'

Aishath Malja Moosa Didi, a 27-year-old woman from Seenu Atoll Maradhoo, has been remanded in custody in connection with a robbery involving over MVR 50,000. The incident occurred after Malja allegedly lured a man to a guesthouse and, with the assistance of an accomplice, forcibly stole his belongings.

According to the Maldives Police Service, the incident took place on August 26 at approximately 21:30 hrs. Malja approached the victim near Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and invited him to her guesthouse room in the Maafannu ward of Male' City. Once inside, she and a local male accomplice restrained the victim, stealing his mobile phone and cash card. They subsequently withdrew MVR 53,000 from his account.

Following the arrest, the court has ordered Malja’s remand for 15 days while investigations continue.

Police have noted an alarming rise in robbery cases where victims are lured to secluded locations and then subjected to intimidation or force in the Male' area. These crimes are often coordinated by groups. In a similar incident last July, a man was lured into a house, stripped, and threatened into revealing his cash card's PIN, resulting in significant financial loss. The location was reportedly linked to previous robbery incidents.

Authorities are urging the public to remain cautious and report any suspicious activities, as they continue to crack down on such organized crimes.