PGO pledges full support to ending indefinite detention

The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) said on Tuesday that it will provide its full support to the government in efforts to end indefinite detention of suspects arrested for crimes.

The pledge of support comes after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, in his address to the Parliament on Monday, announced plans to submit legislature to address the issue.

In a statement on Tuesday morning, the PGO said that the prolonged trials of suspects held in jail pending the judgement is an issue of deep concern to the Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem himself.

The office pledged full support to finding a legal solution to the issue.

The PGO also reaffirmed its support to implementing relevant government policies, and welcomed President Muizzu to take quick steps to address the issue.

The PGO said that since 2019, it has been engaged in various efforts to end indefinite detention of suspects, including drafting an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code to review the remand of suspects detained pending the outcome of their trial every 30 days, and running reviews to check whether the circumstances pertaining to their detention has changed.

The PGO said that one of the main causes of the issue is the speed of trials, which in turn is linked to the shortage of space in courts.

The office welcomed President Muizzu’s assurance that he will address the shortage of space in courts, and expressed hope the government will implement the changes soon.

The PGO said that establishment of peace and security within the community is one of its guiding principles in taking action against people involved in crimes, along with reducing the crime rate and offering the chance for reform, to the full extent of the law.