Two more alleged drug traffickers released from jail with ankle monitors

Two more suspects were released from jail last week, under the monitoring mechanism established in May where individuals detained indefinitely can get released with ankle monitors if they meet certain requirements.

Total five suspects have been released with ankle monitors since then. This includes two released on May 28, and one on June 1. All three were jailed pending the outcome of trial in drug trafficking cases.

On June 3, the Criminal Court authorized the release of two more suspects; Abdulla Faseeh, 24, Haveereege, Sh. Noomara, and Hussain Abdul Majeed, 41, Handhuvarumatheege, S. Hithadhoo.

Majeed was detained on suspicion of trafficking diamorphine or heroin, while Faseeh was detained on suspicion of trafficking both diamorphine and cannabis.

Court documents show that they were released for a period of 100 days after they agreed to the state’s conditions.

The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) had announced the establishment of the monitoring mechanism on May 21. A couple of days later on May 28, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced the release of the first suspects under the mechanism.

According to the PGO, suspects will only be released if they pass a risk assessment by the police.

The PGO had said at the time that only suspects whose threat to the community can be minimized with ankle monitors will be released under the mechanism.

The office said that suspects of serious felonies such as murder, terrorism, sexual abuse of children and major drug trafficking cases will not be eligible for release.

The monitoring mechanism seeks to address the issue of multiple suspects who are held in jail pending the outcome of trial, which sometimes stretch on for years.

According to the annual report published by the PGO in March, there are four suspects counting their sixth year in jail while awaiting trial, eight counting their fifth year, and 22 more who are counting their fourth year.

During his 2023 presidential campaign, President Muizzu had pledged to resolve the issue of indefinite detentions. And in March 2024, he said the administration would make legal reforms towards that end.

The PGO has said that the monitoring mechanism will offer some degree of relief to the issue of overcrowding at remand jails, and also help improve facilities provided to detainees.