A man has been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay compensation after stealing a woman’s motorcycle in Malé and extensively damaging it in an apparent attempt to conceal its identity.
The Criminal Court found Lugman Ismail, of H. Anasam, Malé, guilty of unlawfully taking another person’s property and causing damage to it.
The incident took place on June 12, when a woman’s GN motorcycle was stolen from outside Al Sabaya Athar shop on Miriyaas Magu in Malé. The motorcycle was later discovered in the early hours of July 8, after Lugman was found riding it and parking it at the junction of January Magu and Lonuziyaarai Magu.
According to the police investigation, the motorcycle had been deliberately altered to make it difficult to identify. Its front registration plate had been modified, while another number plate had been fitted over the rear plate.
Several components had also been damaged or replaced, including the fuel lock, handle lock, tank lock and ignition lock. The motorcycle’s original red covers had been removed and replaced with black ones. Its side mirrors had also been changed, while the meter panel and brake pads were damaged.
The State charged Lugman with unlawfully exercising control over another person’s property and causing damage to property.
He admitted both charges during court proceedings. According to his statement, he found a key on the road and used it to open the motorcycle before taking it. He also acknowledged changing some of its parts and the registration plate.
In a ruling delivered by Criminal Court Judge Ali Nadeem, Lugman was sentenced to nine months and 18 days in prison for unlawfully exercising control over another person’s property. After deducting the 16 days he had already spent in custody during the investigation, the remaining sentence was set at nine months and two days.
For damaging the motorcycle, the court imposed a further 18-day prison sentence after reducing the applicable punishment under the Penal Code.
The court also ordered him to pay MVR 3,267 in compensation for the damage caused to the motorcycle. The amount must be paid to the Civil Court within 30 days of the ruling.
Lugman had previously been identified by police in a case involving obtaining money through deception. He has also faced charges in a separate case involving the possession of alcohol and drugs at a restaurant.
