Four men wearing helmets have robbed a man near State Bank of India (SBI) in capital city Malé.

The police media officer stated that four men on motorcycles who had their faces masked by helmets stole a large amount of cash from the Maldivian man after assaulting him with a sharp object near SBI on Sunday morning.

The robbers had fled the scene by the time officers arrived.

The victim has been taken to hospital and the police are now investigating the case.

Authorities on Sunday began enforcing the new regulation to wear helmets on roads that allow speeds for more than 30 kilometers per hour.

The government has stated that drivers on two-wheeled vehicles are required to wear helmets with un-tinted and transparent screens that identifies the driver.