A man has been fined MVR 11,600 after attempting to cheat a shop by sending a fake Bank of Maldives (BML) transfer slip instead of paying for items he had taken. The incident occurred on June 23, 2021, when Ali Rasheed removed five Red Bull cans and three boxes of Camel cigarettes from Hitzmart shop but did not pay for them.

Rasheed instead sent a falsified BML transfer slip, claiming he had made the payment. However, the slip was found to be fraudulent after an investigation by BML's legal department. The reference number on the slip was incorrect, and a review of the shop’s account revealed that no payment had been made.

When questioned by the police, Rasheed initially claimed he had visited the shop to check on the goods. However, his story was inconsistent, and it became clear that the transfer slip he sent was fake. The shop cashier confirmed that Rasheed had quickly sent the slip after taking the items, but since the payment was never processed, they contacted the shop owner.

In court, Rasheed was found guilty of cheating and forgery under the Maldives Penal Code. While the maximum sentence for these crimes is up to two months in prison, Rasheed requested a fine instead, citing his family responsibilities and stable employment. The judge agreed, determining that a civil penalty would be more appropriate.

Rasheed was ordered to pay MVR 11,600 to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within one month, in lieu of serving a prison sentence.