Majlis accepts bill to stall Criminal Procedure Act, sends it to committee

People’s Majlis has accepted the bill pushed forward on behalf of the government to delay Criminal Procedure Act from taking effect, and has sent it to National Security Committee of People’s Majlis for further evaluation.

The bill was submitted on behalf of the government by North Fuvahmulah MP, Ali Shah.

The bill was accepted into the Majlis with the vote of 41 out of 67 lawmakers. 26 lawmakers opposed the bill.

Criminal Procedure Act was passed by People’s Majlis on April 18, and ratified by President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on May 2.

Its due to take effect on January 17, 2017.

The bill says the authorities needed six more months to make arrangements to apply the law, suggesting the date it starts taking effect be pushed to July 17, 2017.

During the debate on the bill held this Wednesday, Deputy Leader of Progressive Party of Maldives – Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s faction, MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim (Lawyer Wadde) suggested that the bill was submitted by the government to fool lawmakers.

He said that if the bill was passed, it would be similar to PPM members strangling their own necks.