PG office gets over 500 complaints on previous decisions
The office had opened a 20-day window for submitting complaints after Abbas Shareef assumed his role as the new Prosecutor General.
Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has received 539 complaints challenging previous decisions.
The office had opened a 20-day window for submitting complaints after Abbas Shareef assumed his role as the new Prosecutor General.
The complaint submission period, which began after Shareef took office, ended on the 20th of this month. Ahmed Shafeeu, the Public Prosecutor and office spokesperson, confirmed the number of complaints received.
The complaints could relate to prosecution decisions and detention orders in criminal cases. Shareef stated that the decision to open the submission window was due to the increasing number of complaints received since he took office.
An internal committee is being formed within the PGO to review the complaints and evaluate the possibility of revisiting past decisions. Shareef emphasised that the committee would thoroughly examine the complaints and make decisions accordingly. He also stated that the decisions, along with their justifications, would be disclosed.
During a press conference held on the 1st of this month, Shareef outlined some of the key complaints against former Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem. These include:
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Allegations of insufficient grounds for the filing of a rape case against former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed.
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The filing of corruption charges related to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) case against former Youth Minister Ahmed Mahloof.
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The decision not to appeal a lower court verdict in the safari rape case.
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Withdrawal of human trafficking charges against former MP Ali Riza.
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Alleged failure to prosecute corruption related to ventilator procurements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shameem has denied accusations that these decisions were influenced by political considerations and questioned the motives behind the allegations.
Shareef’s office has signalled that it aims to address these concerns transparently and fairly through the newly formed internal committee. Political influence in prosecutorial decisions has been a recurring point of criticism against successive governments in Maldives.
