The State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) has honoured two employees for their courageous actions during a transformer theft incident in Hulhumalé Phase II. Ahmed Vishaan received the company’s prestigious ‘Medal of Bravery’ after sustaining injuries while preventing the robbery, while his colleague, Saruvaan Mohamed, was awarded a certificate of recognition for his role in responding to the incident.
The attempted theft occurred at approximately 9:30 pm when thieves targeted a transformer supplying electricity to the MPL flats. According to STELCO’s Managing Director, Hussain Fahmy, the employees were dispatched to the site following a reported power outage. Upon arrival, Vishaan and Saruvaan encountered the perpetrators in the act.
In a confrontation, one of the thieves attacked Vishaan with a large wrench, causing injuries to his head and mouth. Despite the risk, the employees’ actions were instrumental in stopping the theft. The Maldives Police Service has since arrested one individual suspected of involvement in the crime.
STELCO celebrated the bravery of both employees in a social media post, describing their actions as an example of “exceptional courage and dedication to duty under significant risk to life and well-being.” The company reaffirmed its commitment to employee safety, emphasising that incidents like this would be addressed with the utmost seriousness.
Fahmy highlighted that the transformer site lacked CCTV surveillance, as it was not part of an active STELCO project. In response to the incident, the company is collaborating with the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to install security cameras at the location to deter future thefts.
The theft of transformers and related electrical components has become a recurring problem in the Maldives, highlighting the need for increased security at utility sites.
