Death sentences should be carried out by lethal injection, advises cabinet

President Yameen Abdul Gayoom has been advised by his cabinet that death sentences should be implemented by lethal injection in the Maldives.

This advice was given at a cabinet meeting held today, after discussion on methods used in countries that carry out executions.

The cabinet also advised the President to create and enforce a regulation as soon as possible, on procedures to be followed in the implementation of the death penalty.

The regulation should include procedures to be followed in every stage of murder cases, including the investigation, the prosecution, and the implementation of the death penalty.

The regulation should also ensure that murder suspects are assured their rights as guaranteed by the Constitution, advised the cabinet.

Members of the cabinet said that the regulation should prescribe the facts to be confirmed by the Prosecutor General prior to pressing charges, as well as the order of the court process.

They also noted the upsurge in planned and brutal murders in the Maldives over the past five years, and the negative impact of this on the society such as the loss of rights, peace, security, and freedom of the general public. In this regard, they highlighted the seriousness of the recent high rate of murder in the Maldives.