Ex PG criticizes “unresearched” defamation bill

Former Prosecutor General Ahmed Muizzu has criticized the defamation and freedom of expression bill under evaluation at People’s Majlis, saying that the bill has many issues and has been compiled without proper research and technical considerations.

In his first interview to media after his resignation, Muizzu spoke to “Sun” and said that he believed those who defame others should be penalized, but that passing the defamation bill as it is, was not something he approved of.

Muizzu said that the MVR 50,000 – MVR 2,00,000 fine set for defamation was too high, and that determining that the offender can only appeal his sentence after he has paid the fine was a policy used in designing tax laws which the government earns revenue from.

He said that an independent organization with authority to oversee the media being authorized to look into a criminal offense begged the question of whether the offender would receive the constitutional right to defend him/herself.

Muizzu said that there were many indiscrepancies and repetitions in the bill, which showed that the bill had not been well-researched.

The bill prescribes fines between MVR 50,000 to MVR 2,0000,000 for defamation. And the decision can be appealed in courts only after the reporter has paid the fine.

The case will be reported to police and prosecuted, if the reporter fails to pay the fine.

The bill prescribes prison sentences from 3 – 6 months if the reporter fails to pay the fine within the period of time given by court after the case is sent for prosecution.

Defamation bill was proposed to the People’s Majlis by ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Parliamentary Group member, Jaufar Dhaood.

Majllis has approved to set up a 11-member committee to evaluate the bill – made up of six PPM lawmakers, two lawmakers from Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and one lawmaker from Maldives Development Alliance.