Prosecutor General Aishath Bisham has stated the trust of public on the criminal justice system can be maintained only when public witness justice being delivered and implemented. The prosecutor general made the remarks addressing the ceremony held to launch the first ever Prosecutor's Symposium in Maldives.
Addressing the ceremony, Prosecutor General Bisham revealed although a Criminal Procedural Code was implemented in Maldives, many relevant authorities are still unfamiliar with the changes executed under the procedural code. Citing the Criminal Procedural Code, Bisham said relevant authorities working within the system are unfamiliar on the procedures to be followed in investigations, detentions, interrogations, arrests, pressing charges and conducting trials. She expressed concerns over the lack of trust from the public towards the Criminal Procedural Code, describing it as a failure of the system. In this regard, she said lack of trust raises several challenges to implementing the system.
Furthermore, addressing the multi-stakeholder symposium, Bisham said while Prosecutor General's Office plays the most important role in the criminal justice system, the institution must always exert efforts to create peace and justice among the public. In this regard, she expressed concern the regulations have not been put in place, calling on all relevant authorities to finalise regulations to strengthen the criminal justice system.
The Prosecutor's Symposium in Maldives is held for three days to discuss the challenges and improvements to be made to strengthen the justice system. The symposium is attended by Maldives Police Service, Anti-Corruption Commission, Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services, Family Protection Authority, National Drug Agency, Criminal Court, Drug Court, Juvenile Court as well as Hulhumale' Magistrate Court.