No group meets criteria for gang designation, president says

President Mohamed Muizzu has said no gang has been identified under the Gang Crimes Prevention Act, as no group operating in the Maldives meets the criteria set out in the law.

The Act, which came into force on 25 August, allows the Prosecutor General to request the court to declare a group an “organised criminal group”. The court is responsible for making the determination.

Speaking at an event held at the Social Centre on Monday to mark the government’s two-year anniversary, the President said that 84 days after the law came into effect, no gang had been identified by the court.

He said he had asked Home Minister Ali Ihsan how many gangs had been submitted for designation. Citing the minister, the President stated that groups previously active at that level were no longer operating.

“The Home Minister was very happy and said no. We sent it to the prosecutor and the prosecutor said there was no eligible gang,” the President said.

In his presentation on the administration’s work over the past two years, he said that youths who had been involved in gangs had stopped after the implementation of the Act.

“They have stopped gang crime and the youth have now gone to a normal life to do business and live a decent life. Therefore, there are very few gangs,” he said.

He said the purpose of introducing laws with strict penalties was to act as a deterrent and reduce criminal activity. He added that the aim was to remove young people from criminal environments rather than simply impose punishments.

“We want to bring out many youths who have been involved in bad things and make them children who have character, who love their religion and love their country, and who can do constructive work,” he said.

The President said the national service programme, which involves hundreds of young people, aims to create a productive generation that does not live in criminal environments.

He also called on any youth engaged in gang activity to stop immediately.