The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has drafted the Gang Crime Prevention Bill, which has been submitted to the Attorney General's Office (AGO) for legal amendments. The bill seeks to remove gang leaders and members from holding government jobs as well as prevent them from contesting in elections.
The bill determines that anyone identified as a gang member by a designated committee will be dismissed from public employment and barred from future public employment or candidacy for electoral positions. The committee responsible for identifying gang leaders and members will include the Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, the Commissioner of Police, the Chief of Defense Force, and the heads of Police and Military Intelligence.
The penalties under the bill include fines ranging from USD 32,000 to USD 65,000, with provisions to freeze the offender’s bank accounts for five years if the fine is not paid on time. Repeat offenders may also face prison sentences of five to ten years.
The draft also stipulates that vehicles used in gang activities will be taken into for up to 90 days without a court order. Law enforcement will have the authority to arrest gang members, search, and photograph individuals, and search the premises of arrested individuals without a court order if there is reasonable cause to believe a gang-related offense has occurred.
The measures are part of the government's efforts to combat gang crime and enhance public safety. In line with this, significant structural changes have been made to the Maldives Police Service (MPS) this year, including the establishment of a special department focused on gang crime prevention.