A man has filed a civil suit to recover an iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB that he says he gave a woman after she agreed to marry him during their relationship.
The case was submitted to the Bilehfahi Magistrate Court on 15 December. The plaintiff is identified in court records as Ali Shaihan from Thimarafushi in Thaa Atoll, and the defendant as Hawwa Rania from Bilehfahi in Shaviyani Atoll. The court ruled on preliminary objections on 24 December.
Shaihan asked the court to order the return of the phone. He also requested a ruling requiring Rania to pay MVR 10,000, which he says he spent on legal services. He alleges the phone was given while they were together and that she is still holding on to it without returning it.
Rania objected, arguing the allegation involved fraud, which would make the matter criminal. She said the case should be investigated and then sent to the Prosecutor General instead of being heard as a civil matter.
Shaihan told the court he had filed the case as a property recovery claim. He cited a previous civil court ruling and said the use of terms such as fraud did not turn the matter into a criminal charge. Rania did not submit a further response.
Magistrate Nazeer Mohamed ruled that the case could proceed in the magistrate’s court. Rania was ordered to collect the case documents and provide proof of collection within 14 days from Wednesday.