PG Shameem: Delay in court cases biggest challenge facing PGO

The delay in court cases is the biggest challenge facing the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO), states Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem.

Shameem was summoned for a meeting with the Parliament’s Judiciary Committee on Tuesday evening, to discuss the execution of the duties of the PGO in criminal cases and the challenges facing the office.

In response to a question by West Henveiru MP Hassan Latheef, Shameem said the issue of suspects jailed pending the outcome of trials was an issue of deep concern to the PGO, and an issue that remains unresolved, despite multiple approaches taken by the office to address the issue.

Shameem said the PGO had made multiple attempts to address the issue, including revising the law and policies.

“But the situation remains the same. It is therefore something of deep concern to me. If we find a path, I believe it will also lighten the PGO’s workload,” he said.

He described the delay in the court process as the biggest challenge facing the PGO.

Shameem said the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) had worked with the Criminal Court to resolve the issue. And that the PGO was currently planning initiatives targeting outer lying islands.

“It will begin next week,” he said.

Shameem said the pilot project would begin in R. Atoll.

“I know how many people there are [in detention pending outcome of trial]. The judges that are conducting hearings. And the judges that are not. And the time. We have all the information, including when the judges go home,” he said.