Anti-gang efforts with up to MVR 1 Mn fine in new bill

 A new bill with stringent anti-gang measures, including fines up to MVR 1 million, has been drafted and submitted to the Attorney General’s Office.

The “Prevention of Gang Crimes Bill” was drafted with extreme measures proposed in efforts to curtail organized or gang-related criminal activities. The new bill outlines the legal characteristics of a gang, steps to curtail gang-related criminal activities and measures to recover assets from gang crimes to the state.

The new bill also criminalizes and defines punitive measures for the aid and abetment to gangs and criminal activities of gangs either monetarily or materialistically.

The bill criminalizes and categories the following as gang-related offenses:

-          Publicizing information about and signs used by gangs

-          Financial or material assistance to leaders, members or gangs to commit criminal offenses

-          Financing criminal gangs

-          Intimidation of witnesses or informants

-          Granting permission to enter into premises that have police notices

-          Presence at any location that has been designated as a gang hideout

-          Forming gangs to commit criminal offenses

-          Painting graffiti

The bill also proposes limiting the rights of suspects arrested for gang-related crimes include the right to silence and bail during investigation.

Revealing the signs and information by gangs is a criminal offense with a fine between MVR 500,000 and MVR 1 million. Authorities will have power to freeze bank accounts of such individuals if the fine is not paid within set period.

Repeat offenses could carry a jail term between five and 10 years. years.

Additionally, if such an offense includes a legal entity, then the fine could be increased between MVR 5 million to MVR 10 million, according to the bill. Authorities will have the power to freeze the accounts of the culpable parties and claim their assets to the state.

The bill also outlines other criminal offenses that constitute as gang-related crimes.

Should the new bill be eventually implemented as law, the current Prohibition of Gang Crimes Act (Act No. 18/2010) will be repealed.