9 released under electronic monitoring programme

Nine individuals held in pre-trial detention have been released with electronic monitoring devices attached to their legs, the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) confirmed on Wednesday night.

According to PGO Spokesperson and Senior Public Prosecutor Ahmed Shafeeu, the releases took place on 28th of last month as part of efforts to address concerns over prolonged pre-trial detention.

A total of 121 individuals have submitted requests to be considered for release under the electronic monitoring programme. Of these, nine have been tagged and released, while 20 others were not remanded in custody following assessment. The remaining 92 are currently undergoing police evaluations to determine their potential risk to the public.

The specific charges against the nine released individuals have not been disclosed. However, court records have shown that in previous instances, individuals arrested on drug-related charges have also been released from remand.

The PGO previously stated that electronic tagging is only applied after police assessments are completed to evaluate the level of risk posed by an individual. The PGO emphasised that those charged with crimes considered a threat to public safety will not be eligible for release under this programme.

The categories excluded from eligibility include:

High-level terrorism offences are defined to include acts such as causing serious bodily harm, endangering lives, kidnapping, serious property damage, hijacking of vehicles, or posing threats to public health or safety.

A significant portion of individuals currently held in custody are facing charges including murder, sexual offences, and terrorism-related crimes.

Legal experts have noted that the backlog in pre-trial detention can be reduced by expediting court proceedings. They have highlighted the need to address space limitations in the courts and adopt measures that enable quicker conclusion of trials.

Pre-trial detention is used internationally as a means of ensuring public safety and securing the presence of defendants during trial proceedings. The legal framework supporting detention includes three main considerations: