A total of 13 suspects have been arrested over the bank robbery at the Bank of Maldives (BML) branch in Villingili island of Gaafu Alifu atoll, reveals Maldives Police Service.

The robbery was reported to the police early Monday morning, who revealed that those that committed the crime had removed part of the building’s roof to make an entry point.

Seven suspects were arrested on Monday itself following a special operation by the police’s intelligence department, and were remanded by the Villingili Magistrate Court the next day; five were issued a 15-day remand while two were given seven days.

Six more suspects were arrested on Tuesday, four of them were given a 10-day remand while the rest were remanded by seven days the next day.

Police have since revealed that two expatriates, one Sri Lankan and one Bangladeshi, had been arrested over the matter.

While the police continue to investigate the robbery, neither the police nor BML have revealed the exact amount stolen. However, it has been reported that MVR 14 million had been recovered inside an unused washing machine in an abandoned house on the island.

BML is to resume services in the island after the police concludes its investigation into the matter.