Tuesday 23 Jun 2026
(L-R) Combined photos of Filipino national Marvin S. Y. Vargas (now known as Yusuf) and Haleemath Lamha, the Maldivian nurse, both have been found guilty of murdering the former’s wife, Mary Grace Oned Pineda.
The Criminal Court will deliver sentencing on July 1 for Haleemath Lamha, a Maldivian nurse, and her boyfriend, Filipino national Marvin S. Y. Vargas (now known as Yusuf), after both were found guilty on Monday of murdering Marvin’s wife, Filipino nurse Mary Grace Oned Pineda.
Both defendants remained in custody following their convictions.
Marvin was convicted of intentional homicide, the most serious category of murder under Maldivian law. The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Lamha was convicted as an accomplice to intentional homicide, in addition to two misdemeanor charges:
unauthorized use of another person’s property, and
carrying out an act that required permission, without legal permission.
Under the Penal Code, assisting or participating in intentional homicide, including planning, facilitating, or providing the means to commit the crime, is treated as a grave offence. Accomplice liability in intentional homicide can also carry a life sentence, depending on the degree of involvement established by the court.
For the misdemeanor charges, the basic penalties are:
nine months and 18 days for unauthorized use of another person’s property, and
one month and six days for carrying out an act without permission.
These durations may vary based on judicial discretion and case‑specific circumstances.
Mary Grace, a nurse at IGMH, was killed on October 19, 2021, shortly after returning home for her break. Marvin transported her body to IGMH minutes later, initially claiming she had died by suicide and later altering his account to say she collapsed.
Police found the circumstances suspicious and launched an investigation. Marvin was arrested on October 27, 2021, and Lamha on December 16, 2021.
An autopsy revealed blunt‑force trauma to Mary’s head and neck, and toxicology tests detected succinylcholine, a restricted anesthetic used to induce temporary paralysis. Investigators later recovered a used succinylcholine vial and two additional controlled injections from Lamha’s apartment.
The prosecution presented over 100 pieces of evidence, including more than 70 witnesses, as well as chatlogs between Marvin and Lamha discussing obstacles to Marvin taking a second wife under Philippine law.
Marvin converted to Islam while in custody and formally changed his name to Yusuf. The Islamic Ministry has notified the court of his conversion.
Sentencing for both defendants will take place on July 1.
