The Cabinet has decided to work towards making the Maldives the country with the lowest number of people held in pre-trial detention.
The large number of people who remain in detention while awaiting the completion of court proceedings has been a concern for various parties. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has previously said that addressing the issue would receive special priority.
At a Cabinet meeting held on Sunday, several important decisions were made concerning Government initiatives and social issues facing the country. Among them was a decision to work towards making the Maldives the country with the lowest number of people detained for investigation without a court ruling.
The growing number of people held in detention pending the completion of court proceedings, commonly referred to as pre-trial detention, is a major concern in several countries.
Since assuming office, President Dr Muizzu has introduced several changes aimed at addressing issues concerning people held in pre-trial detention. The President has said that successive governments had exerted influence over the judiciary and that this practice has now been brought to an end. He said this was achieved by allocating a separate budget for the judiciary.
President Dr Muizzu has also assured that the Prosecutor General's Office will fully carry out its responsibilities to resolve the cases of all individuals who have remained in pre-trial detention for more than a year. He has also said on various occasions that the Government will give special priority to finding fair solutions to the cases of people held in detention.
The judiciary has identified space constraints faced by the courts, particularly the Criminal Court, as a key reason for cases remaining unresolved for prolonged periods. To address the issue, the Government opened an annex of the Justice Building in Hulhumalé and relocated the operations of the Criminal Court to the building.
Following the move, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has noted that the number of cases concluded by the Criminal Court has increased severalfold.