The Prosecutor General’s Office has charged eight individuals in connection with the armed theft of a suitcase containing large amounts of foreign currency from two Bank of Maldives (BML) employees at Velana International Airport.

According to the PG Office, the charges were submitted to the Criminal Court on February 8 and 26 over the robbery that occurred on October 27, 2025, at the airport’s Terminal 1.

Three of the suspects face additional serious charges. Ahmed Mahid of T. Vilufushi has been charged with robbery under Article 213 of the Penal Code, as well as threatening a person with a sharp object and other offences under the Anti-Gang Crimes and Other Dangerous Crimes Act. Ali Afzal from S. Hithadhoo and Abdul Awwal Ibrahim Aboobakuru of Villingili have also been charged with robbery and related offences.

Five others – Hussain Shahud, Resham, Mazin Moosa, Ahmed Raihan Naeem, Ibrahim Anoof and Ismail Siruhan – were charged under Article 213 of the Penal Code and Article 30 for their alleged involvement.

Prosecutors said the robbery took place when two BML employees were carrying a suitcase containing multiple foreign currencies, including 4,900 Euros, 1,735 Pounds, 2,610 Singaporean Dollars, 1,345 Australian Dollars, 510 Swiss francs, 1,515 Canadian Dollars, 334,000 Japanese Yen, 10,420 Hong Kong Dollars, 106,120 USD, MVR 23,778 and 25,000 Rupees.

At around 4:15 a.m., the suspects allegedly threatened the employees with knives near Gate 1 of the airport’s new terminal and stole the suitcase. Police said the robbery occurred along the walkway between the old terminal and the new terminal.

During the incident, the attackers also sprayed pepper spray at a security officer who attempted to stop them.

After stealing the suitcase, the suspects fled the scene and later traveled to K. Huraa. Reports indicate that CCTV footage showed the suspects counting the stolen cash inside a guesthouse where they were staying.

The Prosecutor General’s Office has asked the court to order the defendants to compensate for the losses caused by the robbery.