Judiciary Committee charged with reviewing info on convicts, advising govt. on commutations

Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed has instructed the Judiciary Committee to collect information on all convicts presently serving sentences in Maldivian prisons, and review the information to advise the government on possible lessening of their sentences.

Speaking during this Tuesday’s parliamentary sitting, Nasheed said the greatest number of letters sent to the Parliament are regarding housing and commuting of prison sentences.

Judiciary Committee had previously held an inquiry in response to complaints lodged with the Parliament over delays in response to forms submitted by convicts requesting pardons and sentence reductions. The Parliament passed the report compiled by the committee following its inquiry and submitted the recommendations on the report to relevant institutions and the President’s Office.

“But we still have yet to see this acted upon. This raises further concern,” said Nasheed.

Nasheed said the Judiciary Committee needs to collect information on all convicts and conduct an in-depth inquiry.

“The Judiciary Committee must identify everyone in prison or serving sentences, identify their crime, their sentence, their information, the date on which they applied for pardon, and whether there is room to commute their sentence and hold an in-depth inquiry into this,” he said.

Nasheed said he is satisfied with the inquiry by the National Development and Heritage Committee regarding the issue of social housing, and expects the inquiry to produce a positive outcome.

“I ask that the Judiciary Committee take this same path, dive deep and identify the very last person and find out what’s happening with them, and to advise the government on the committee or the Parliament’s recommendations regarding the course of action that should be taken with regard to them,” he said.