The Maafushi Magistrate Court has sentenced a man to four months and 23 days in prison for trespassing at the Hulhumalé Water Theme Park construction site without permission.

The case involved Abdulla Hauzaan, who was accused of entering the restricted site at around 1154hrs. on 6 March 2022. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Under the law, the offence carries a maximum sentence of four months and 24 days. However, the prosecution sought a harsher penalty as Hauzaan had previously been convicted of a crime in February 2023. The state argued for an increase in the sentence to six months, but adjusted the term due to sentencing guidelines.

Taking into account the 22 hours and 28 minutes Hauzaan spent in custody during the investigation, the court finalised the sentence at four months and 23 days in prison. The court noted that, as Hauzaan was already serving another sentence, the punishment would be served in jail rather than converted to a fine.