The Criminal Court has decided not to enter its usual December recess due to ongoing challenges in holding hearings. This decision was made in line with the Courts Act and the Rules of the Criminal Court. Typically, the Superior Courts go into recess twice a year, in June and December, but this year, the Criminal Court has opted to remain operational throughout the month.
In an official statement, the court acknowledged that the space constraints in its building have yet to be resolved. To manage the situation, court proceedings have been divided across different court halls, with various judges assigned to different days. Despite these challenges, the court has decided to forgo its recess for the entire month of December.
However, the court has confirmed that it will take a short recess starting from the 15th of the month. During this period, some essential work will continue. The Criminal Court expressed hope that the space constraints would be alleviated if the court could relocate its functions to the building previously used as a Covid facility in Hulhumale'. The court believes that such a move would allow for a more efficient handling of cases and expedite the judicial process.
In its statement, the Criminal Court also provided an overview of its work for the year. A total of 7,958 hearings were scheduled, and the court decided 515 cases. Additionally, 2,615 individuals were remanded in custody, and 2,043 different court orders were issued.
While the court will observe a recess from the December 15, essential functions will remain active. The court will continue to address matters related to the relocation of its operations, hearings to determine remand, and the issuance of various court orders. Furthermore, cases involving individuals detained pending trial, as well as time-sensitive tasks mandated by law and regulations, will proceed without interruption. Administrative work in preparation for the coming year will also continue during the recess period.