Attorney General's Office has revealed the Treaty between Maldives and India on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters will be followed within the legal boundaries set in the Constitution of Maldives and the relevant laws and regulations.
In a statement, the Attorney General's Office said the policies to seek mutual legal assistance in criminal matters are included in the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act of the Maldives, which was passed in 2015. Citing the act, the Attorney General's Office said foreign countries can seek mutual legal assistance from Maldives in criminal investigation, freeze assets and retrieve legal documents, bank statements and financial statements.
The Attorney General's Office assured the Treaty between Maldives and India on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters will be followed in accordance with the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act of the Maldives.
Furthermore, in the statement, the Attorney General's Office revealed exchange of prisoners are not included as part of the treaty, adding a Maldivian citizen cannot be summoned to a court abroad without guaranteeing the safety of the individual to the Prosecutor General's Office, the central authority in Maldives, for the purposes of the treaty.
The scope of the treaty covers the facilitation of the widest measures of mutual assistance in the service of summons, execution of warrants and other judicial documents and commissions, in accordance with the treaty and subject to the domestic laws of participating states
It also includes improving the effectiveness of both countries in the prevention, investigation and prosecution of crime, including crime related to terrorism and tracing, restraints forfeiture or confiscation of funds meant for financing of terrorism as also the proceeds and instruments of crime, through cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. Apart from India, the government of Maldives is also in discussions with Sri Lanka, UAE and Russia, in pursuing similar treaties.