President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that legal proceedings for all suspects who have been in custody for more than one year will be concluded by the end of March next year. He made the remarks while addressing residents of Hulhumalé Phase I during a community meeting.
The President said the Attorney General’s Office had confirmed the timeline following repeated public appeals to expedite court proceedings involving long-term detainees. He stated that once these cases are concluded, the government will then review the remand status of other individuals who remain in custody.
President Muizzu said that at present, 347 people are being held in custody pending trial. He stressed that those detained are accused of serious crimes and cannot be released without proper judicial review. He questioned whether any citizen would want individuals accused of grave offences to be released without due legal process.
The President detailed that 29 detainees were arrested on murder charges, while 20 are facing terrorism-related charges. He said 117 individuals are accused of child sexual abuse, 70 of assault-related offences, and 116 of drug trafficking. He further noted that detainees are also being held in connection with offences including money laundering, robbery, armed robbery, domestic violence, kidnapping, human trafficking, arson, prostitution and smuggling.
President Muizzu reiterated that, based on information received by the Attorney General’s Office, court proceedings for all detainees held for more than a year will be completed by the end of March next year, after which cases involving the remaining detainees will continue.
He said judicial reforms currently underway are expected to ease pressure on the courts and address the issue of prolonged detention, ensuring that justice is delivered both efficiently and responsibly.