Sheesha theft suspect returns to Maldives

Ibrahim Shahid of Baa Atoll Thulaadhoo, accused of stealing Rf18 million (US$1.1 million) from a State Bank of India (SBI) account belonging to three brothers of local motorcycle retailer Sheesha, has been apprehended in Sri Lanka.

Shahid will arrive in the Maldives on Sri Lankan Airways UL flight this evening, police have said. He is one of three suspects wanted under an Interpol Red Notice for the affair.

On November 24 2011 the account owners discovered that several unauthorised transfers had been made from their joint personal savings account to an unidentified recipient, the first transaction being made on November 9.

Following the discovery the Sheesha brothers Ahmed Hassan Manik, Hussain Husham and Ibrahim Husham said the transfer had been made to a Bank of Maldives account with a forged document using Manik’s name. The brothers said they would sue SBI and requested the bank take full responsibility for the theft.

Meanwhile, then police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said the head of the criminal group had been arrested with documents.

‘’But the court released him and he immediately left the country,’’ Shiyam said at the time. ‘’We have another person held in detention, and we are looking for other three suspects including the person we arrested before.’’

Police Sub-Inspector Hussain Haneef today said Shahid was arrested during “a joint operation coordinated by Maldivian and Sri Lankan security forces.”

Meanwhile, Judge Haathif Hilmy and the lawyers involved in the case are deliberating over how to submit documents relevant to the case as certain papers contain confidential information and a police investigation is ongoing.