STO crew member fined MVR 114,000 for embezzling fish cases

The Criminal Court has convicted Mohamed Faiyaz of Bodhiya, Hinnavaru, Thaa Atoll, for misappropriating 300 cases of fish assigned to the STO store in Fonadhoo, Lhaviyani Atoll. Faiyaz, a crew member of the boat "Kamana," was charged with criminal trespass for exercising power over property belonging to STO without permission. The incident came to light in November 2018. MIFCO had loaded 300 cases of "Felixvar Chunks in Oil" (180 grams each), valued at MVR 192,000, onto the boat chartered by STO to transport goods to various islands. The boat was meant to deliver the goods to the STO store in Fonadhoo. However, the fish cases were never unloaded at the store. Testimony from foreign sailors proved that Faiyaz moved the cases to a dinghy and another vessel at night and sent them to a nearby island. As a result, STO deducted the value of the goods from the boat's freight payment. Judge Ibrahim Zihni found that it was proven beyond reasonable doubt that Faiyaz acted to permanently deprive the owner of the goods, knowing they belonged to STO. Since the value exceeded MVR 50,000, the crime was classified as a fourth-degree criminal offense, with a basic punishment of one year, seven months, and six days imprisonment. Faiyaz requested a reduced sentence and conversion to a fine, citing the case's long pendency and his wife's imminent childbirth. The court converted most of the jail term into a fine. Faiyaz was sentenced to six days in jail, with the remaining one year and seven months converted to a fine of MVR 114,000. He must pay the fine to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within 18 months of the judgment.