Yameen: Police abusing powers, cybercrime bill poses grave threat

Former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has accused the police of abusing their powers, adding that the cybercrime bill submitted to the Parliament, which would allow the police greater powers, poses a grave threat to privacy rights.

Addressing a People’s National Front (PNF) rally held on Monday night, Yameen said there is no accountability in cases of abuse of power involving police officers. He said that such cases, even those submitted to the National Integrity Commission (NIC) remain stymied.

Yameen said that the cybercrime bill allows the police to monitor electronic devices of any individual they want, posing a serious threat to the right to privacy and data protection.

“They already listen in on phone calls. Both the police and the MNDF already have this capability. And now they are targeting the cyberspace with this cybercrime bill to further infringe on the private rights of citizens,” he said.

Yameen said that the biggest problem with such legislature is that the police fail to execute their powers within the bounds of the law. He noted that the constitution empowers judges to order for suspects to be detained for an indefinite period of time based on a mere police intelligence report. He said that the police have misused this legal provision time and time again.

He said that given the situation; he finds a legislature that would allow the police greater powers problematic. He said that existing laws already allow the police to tap phones and other electronic devises under a court warrant.

“The intention was sincere in drafting the constitution. There was no consideration that state institutions may abuse it. But they [the police] are manipulating these small loopholes to infringe on the rights of others either out of fear of political leaders and people in power or because of their vulnerability,” he said.

Yameen said that the actions of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration and that of his predecessor, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has tarnished the reputation of the police beyond redemption.

He said that there has been a massive loss in public trust in the police.

The Parliament’s Judiciary Committee is reviewing three cybercrime bills proposed by the government; a bill to amend the Penal Code, a bill to amend the Criminal Procedure Code, and a bill to amend the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act.

The bill to amend the Criminal Procedure Code grants law enforcement agencies greater powers to combat cybercrime.