We do not believe return of criminals into the society would increase crimes: Press Secretary

As about 400 convicted criminals are let loose into the society following an amnesty by President Mohamed Nasheed on the occasion of Maldives’ Independence Day, Press Secretary at the President’s Office said today that he did not believe the step would lead to increasing crime rate.

Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair said that the decision to offer 400 convicted inmates a second chance to come into the society as law-abiding members had been taken after much consideration. Speaking to the press today, Zuhair said that his opinion that crime rate would not increase because of the pardons was based on statistics. He said that 119 criminals had been pardoned once before, and that only 2 of them had to be imprisoned again for illegal behaviour.

“Even before, there were criminal activities in Malé, but they were not committed by pardoned convicts. Those kind of things happen even now, but they are related to opposition political activities”, Zuhair said.

Zuhair said that names of all pardoned convicts would be publicly announced. “Their names would be published within about a couple of weeks. As the arrangement progresses, families and public would come to know who are being released under amnesty. This government would do everything with transparency, and nothing shall be hidden”, Zuhair said.

Special programs have also being designed and inaugurated to provide pardoned convicts training in various life-skills. Ministry of Home Affairs said that they would be taught how to lead a normal life free from crimes. The Ministry also affirmed that any released convict who fails to attend the programs would be sent back to prison.

The Ministry also stated that each pardoned convict would have a job with a salary no less than MRF2000 as they come out of prison into the society. These jobs would be offered by companies with government shareholding.