President: Government will not hesitate to implement death penalty

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has said that the current government would not hesitate to implement the death penalty.

He made this remark while speaking at a rally organised by ruling party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), on the occasion of the government’s one-year anniversary.

The President said that the government would not hesitate to implement the death penalty after such a sentence is issued by a lower court, upheld by all higher courts, and the victim’s heirs do not pardon the convict. He said that the government would not have any sympathy for people who mercilessly kill people.

The President said that according to the current laws, people who are arrested for possession of sharp weapons have to be released after a few days.

He said that people who are arrested on suspicion of such crimes can be held in custody for long durations without any court order in many developed countries; and in many countries, such suspects are not allowed to appoint a lawyer to represent them until a specified duration has passed.

He said that the government has proposed an amendment to the Intimidation and Possession of Dangerous Weapons and Sharp Instruments Act, to facilitate this in the Maldives.