Only one suspect released in July with ankle monitoring

Only one suspect was released from prison in July under the electric monitoring mechanism established in May where individuals detained indefinitely can get released with ankle monitors if they meet certain requirements.

The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) had announced the establishment of the electric monitoring mechanism on May 21 as part of efforts to address the issue indefinite remand. A couple of days later on May 28, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced the release of the first suspects under the mechanism.

Criminal Court discloses the identity of the suspects released under the mechanism. In this regard, a total of nine suspects have been released under the mechanism with ankle monitors so far.

They include five suspects in May, two suspects in June and one suspect in July.

The only suspect released in July has been identified as a 23-year-old from Addu City’s Meedhoo jailed on charges of diamorphine trafficking.

Suspects are released with ankle monitors for a period of 100 days after they agree to the state’s conditions.

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

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 Office, 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.

PGO’s Spokesperson Ahmed Shafeeu, via a post on X on June 11^th, said the Office has received 121 applications requesting release with ankle monitoring under the mechanism. He added that the Office had decided to release 20 people under the mechanism following the police assessment.