Two Jailed for Hacking Email and Withdrawing MVR 19,000

The Criminal Court has sentenced two individuals to prison for hacking into a person's email account and withdrawing MVR 19,000 from their bank account. Ali Imran of Hinaamaa, Fiyooree, Gaafu Alif Atoll, and Mohamed Shah of Male Havitti, Kaafu Atoll, were found guilty of illegally exercising control over another person's property. The incident began when the email of a person from Fuvahmulah, Gnaviyani Atoll, was compromised. Subsequently, MVR 20,300 was deposited from his Bank of Maldives (BML) account into the Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB) account of a third party. The accused then contacted that party, claiming the deposit was a mistake, and after retaining MVR 1,300, requested the remaining MVR 19,000 be returned to the original account. Once the money was deposited back, it was immediately transferred to Mohamed Shah's BML account, and the two individuals went together to the ATM at IGMH to withdraw the cash. During the trial, both defendants denied the charges and blamed each other. Shah claimed Imran said the money was for a salary deposit and that he received MVR 3,000 as a "tip." Imran stated he only gave Shah a lift and received MVR 300. Justice Ustadh Muazzim Naseer noted that their coordinated actions and the short timeframe proved the crime was premeditated, and that accepting such a large tip was unreasonable. Ali Imran, who had a prior criminal conviction, was sentenced to one year in prison, reduced to 11 months and 5 days after deducting time served. Mohamed Shah was sentenced to nine months and 18 days, reduced to eight months and 23 days. The court also ordered Shah to pay MVR 19,000 in compensation to the victim, Ibrahim Zareer Hassan, within 12 months.