Prison and Parole Bill returned to committee

The parliament has decided to send the Prison and Parole Bill, which was returned to the parliament for reconsideration without ratification by the president, back to the Parliament Committee on National Security.

The Prison and Parole Bill was submitted to the parliament three years ago. It was assessed by the National Security Committee, passed by the parliament and sent to the president for ratification in December 2012. The bill was returned to the parliament for reconsideration in January 2013.

After discussion, the parliament majority voted in favour of returning the bill for further assessment by the committee. The proposition by Vilimaafannu MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik, which was supported by Fares Maathoda MP Ibrahim Mutthalib, was passed with 29 votes in favour. The proposition was voted against by 17 MPs while two MPs did not participate in the vote.

The president noted in his letter to Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Shahid regarding the reasons for not ratifying the bill, that while Article 3 (e) and (f) of the bill makes it compulsory to establish centres specialised for holding women and children in custody, and while Article 4 (b) describes the centre for children, the bill does not include details on the centre for women.

The president further noted that while Article 16 states that an institution by the name Maldives Correctional Service must be established, it fails to state which party would be responsible for establishing this institution.

He also noted that the system stipulated in the bill regarding the penalties for officers and employees of the Maldives Correctional Service who commit disciplinary offences, contradicts the Civil Service Act.