Police now allowed to detain persons for 48-hours without court order in terrorism related cases

Police now allowed to detain persons for 48-hours without a court order in terrorism-related cases

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on Wednesday, has ratified the third amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Parliament passed this bill at the 44th sitting of its third session of this year, held on November 29. The government proposed bill was submitted to the Parliament by Kurendhoo MP Abdul Ghanee Abdul Hakeem.

With the new amendment, the time frame given to Police for the complete investigations related to terrorism cases has been extended to three months. Prior to this, Police had a deadline of 45-days to complete investigations into terrorism-related cases.

Police will now be able to detain persons suspected of terrorism-related offenses for 48-hours without a court order. Prior to this, persons suspected of terrorism-related offenses were only allowed to be detained without a court order for 24-hours.

On this note, the circumstances under which an individual may be detained for 48-hours without a court order is stipulated in the amendment. They may include those suspected of conspiring an act of terrorism, taking part in an act of terrorism, assisting or abetting in an act of terrorism, carrying weapons used at war, or taking part in sending people to war.

The new amendment also stipulates actions that can be taken against those who go to war, as well as how to enhance the rehabilitation system of those who return from war.