The Criminal Court yesterday ordered a 15-day detention for a man who stole a chocolate from Redwave Plaza in Male'.

The person ordered to be detained is a 37-year-old man from HDh. Hanimaadhoo. He was arrested on charges of theft and presented to the Criminal Court yesterday for a detention hearing.

According to his detention order, he was arrested after he stole a 50-gram Snickers chocolate from the store shelf, ate it, and put the wrapper in his pocket. This was observed by someone watching the store's camera footage at the time, who then stopped him and called the police.

At the detention hearing, the suspect requested not to be held in detention for so long, stating that the chocolate he stole was only worth MVR 14.

The court order states that this is the first time this person has been brought to court for a detention hearing after being arrested. However, it also mentions that he has a criminal record, including three arrests by police this year on suspicion of crimes, one of which was for theft.

Judge Hussain Faiz Rashid, who presided over the detention hearing, ordered him to be detained for 15 days. The reason given was that if released, he could pose a threat to the safety of the community.