PGO receives over 500 requests for review of past decisions

The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has received over 500 requests for review of charges and detention of suspects and defendants.

The new Prosecutor General Abbas Shareef had opened applications for a review of cases on October 1, giving people 20 days to make requests for a review of charges filed with the courts, and the detention of people arrested or remanded in jail.

A spokesperson from the PGO told Sun on Sunday that the office received 539 requests by the deadline. He said that the office will make a decision following a review of the requests.

Abbas, in his first media appearance after assuming his new responsibilities as the PG on August 18, said that each of the requests will be reviewed individually by a special team that will include officials from the PGO.

He also said that the PGO will provide justification for each and every decision it makes to change any of its previous decisions in cases. He also added that applicants will also be given an explanation regarding why the PGO does not reverse its previous decisions.

In his October 1 press briefing, Abbas stressed that the PGO will not review any past decision at its own initiation.

But he said that the PGO will review decisions regarding the charges filed against former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom as well as the decision to drop the sexual assault case against former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed if the office receives a request for a review of those cases.