There was no security guard at the building at the time of the robbery at the national Bank of Maldives (BML)'s branch in Villingili island of Gaaf Alif atoll, reveals island councilor Habeeb Hassan.
Habeeb told RaajjeMV that it has been over two years since the building has been left without security and that although a strong alarm system had been installed in the building, it had not gone off on the night of the robbery. Habeeb told RaajjeMV that they are sure the alarm system was working at the time of the robbery.
So far, the Maldives Police Service (MPS) has arrested 11 individuals in connection to the robbery. Villingili Magistrate Court had remanded five of the arrested individuals by 15 days and two of the arrested by seven days. Four of the remaining individuals who were arrested on Tuesday, have not yet been remanded. Police reported that two expatriates, one Sri Lankan and one Bangladeshi had been arrested over the matter. Four out of the 11 arrested belong to one family, while three belong to another family.
Police had revealed that they had recovered hefty amounts totaling MVR 14 million in bundles, inside an old washing machine in an abandoned house in the island. RaajjeMV also understands that the bundles included foreign notes.
Neither the police nor the bank revealed details of exactly how much was stolen in the robbery which was reported to them close to 6am on Monday and that the robbers had evidently removed parts of the roof of the building and entered through the opening.
BML revealed that they will resume services once the police conclude investigations into the robbery.
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