Prosecutor General’s office launches ‘PGO 2.0’ to integrate AI, digitise services

The Prosecutor General's Office on Tuesday launched "PGO 2.0", a two-year project to digitise its operations and introduce artificial intelligence (AI) tools into its case management and public services.

The project was launched at a ceremony held at Barceló Nasandhura Malé. It aims to move the office's paper-based processes to a digital system and use AI to assist with parts of its work.

Introducing the project, Prosecutor General Abbas Shareef said the changes would improve the speed and accessibility of services provided by the office.

Following completion of the project, the public will have access to "fast, convenient services driven by AI assistance", Abbas said.

Under PGO 2.0, AI functions will be incorporated into Mafini, the case management system currently used by the Prosecutor General's Office.

The planned functions include AI-assisted analysis of legal documents and preparation of case summaries. The system will also include tools for identity verification and the management of witness statements and evidence.

A "Citizen Agent" is also planned under the project to provide members of the public with information and guidance on matters relating to the office and its services.

Abbas said the introduction of AI would not remove human involvement from prosecution work.

"This does not mean there will be no human involvement. In all of these processes, the final decisions will ultimately be made by humans," he said.

He said decisions on whether to prosecute a person for a criminal offence would continue to be made by prosecutors, with AI serving as an assistance tool rather than a decision-maker.

The Prosecutor General's Office also launched two digital services during Tuesday's ceremony.

One of them, "E-Doroshi", is an online platform through which members of the public will be able to access services provided by the office.

The second, "Lethun", is a mobile application intended to provide a central repository for laws, regulations and guidelines relating to the criminal justice system, as well as rulings issued by superior courts.

The PGO 2.0 project is scheduled to be implemented over two years, with the digitisation of case management, legal processes and public-facing services forming part of the programme.