Thimarafushi man imprisoned for stealing from wife’s bank account

A man from Th. Thimarafushi has been sentenced to seven months in prison by the local magistrate court for stealing money from his wife’s bank account.

The man was charged with theft under Article 211 of the Penal Code, for stealing a total of MVR 8,150 from his wife’s account at the Bank of Maldives (BML) on multiple occasions.

He confessed to the crime during the pretrial hearing, admitting that he stole from his wife of his own volition, free from any duress.

He had asked the court to convert his prison sentence to a fine, claiming that he takes care of his sick mother as well as his child. He said that he takes care of his child when his wife is at work, and that his imprisonment would result in difficulties for his family.

However, the court denied the request, citing that he lacks a steady income.

The charge carries a sentence of nine months and 18 days in prison, but the court reduced the sentence based on his guilty plea.

The court last week sentenced him to seven months and three days in prison after taking into account the time he has already spent in detention in the case.