Man Fined MVR 21,600 for Stealing Water Meter in Malé

The Criminal Court has fined a man MVR 21,600 after convicting him of stealing a water meter from a house in Malé.

Adam Irufaan of Alifu Alifu Atoll Thoddoo was convicted of stealing the water meter from a house on Orchid Magu at around 4pm on 16 April of this year. 

According to the case filed by the Prosecutor General’s Office, Irufaan admitted to the offence during the preliminary hearing. The court subsequently found him guilty based on his confession.

The court initially determined a prison sentence of three months and 18 days, taking into account the circumstances of the case and the baseline punishment for the offence under the Penal Code.

However, as Irufaan is currently employed and requested that the prison sentence be converted to a fine, the court applied the relevant provisions of the Penal Code and Supreme Court guidelines to impose a monetary penalty instead.

In a judgment delivered by Criminal Court Chief Judge Adam Mohamed, the court ordered Irufaan to pay MVR 21,600 in place of the prison sentence.

The fine must be paid to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within 12 months, beginning on the first day of this month.

The court ruled that failure to pay the full amount within the specified period would result in the original prison sentence being enforced.