The Criminal Court has imposed a life sentence of 25 years on Marvin S. Y. Vargas and 15 years on his supposed mistress Haleemath Lamha Abdul Rahman for the killing of Vargas's wife, Mary Grace Oned Pineda.

Mary was murdered in her first-floor apartment at Ma. Udhuheykokaage in Male’ City on the afternoon of October 19, 2021.

Her spouse, Marvin, faced murder charges with intent, while his supposed lover, Lamha, was charged as an accessory.

All three had served as nurses in the Emergency Room of Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

Marvin and Lamha, both convicted of Mary’s murder on June 22, returned to court on Wednesday afternoon for their sentencing.

The court imposed a life sentence of 25 years on Marvin, whereas Lamha received a 15-year sentence.

The sessions were conducted individually.

Marvin brought Mary’s body to IGMH in an ambulance just minutes after she returned home for her work break. He initially described her death as a hanging suicide, but later altered his account and stated she had unexpectedly fallen.

Authorities deemed the death suspicious and initiated an inquiry.

Marvin was apprehended on October 27, 2021. Lamha was taken into custody on December 16, 2021.

An examination of Mary revealed that she died from wounds to her head and neck. Examiners also discovered traces of succinylcholine - a drug utilized to induce temporary paralysis during general anesthesia - in her bloodstream.

Detectives discovered a used succinylcholine injection, along with two additional controlled injections in Lamha’s apartment.

The prosecution presented more than 100 items of evidence against the pair, which included over 70 witnesses.

The proof consisted of chat logs of their discussions where they talked about how the laws in the Philippines restricted Marvin from marrying a second wife.