Criminal Court has rejected 439 cases: PG Office

Criminal Court has rejected 439 cases since January, Deputy Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem has said today.

Speaking to at a press conference, Shameem said that some cases were sent back for lack of a defendant's address in Male’. Not all individuals indicted on criminal charges live in the capital or have an address in Male', he explained.

“For example, a man from Fuvahmulah, who grew up in Fuvahmulah and had drugs on the island will not have an address in Male’,” said the Deputy Prosecutor General, who currently heads the PG Office following the resignation of Prosecutor General Ahmed Muizzu in November last year.

Criminal Court decided to halt proceedings and stop accepting cases from the Prosecutor General's Office in January, stating the office does not have the authority file cases in the absence of a Prosecutor General. The court later resumed proceedings after two orders from the Supreme Court.

Shameem said that the Criminal Court has rejected 120 different cases since them, citing the lack of jurisdiction because the defendants had permanent addresses in the atolls, although the crimes were committed in the capital.

The Criminal Court’s behavior has been brought to the Supreme Court’s attention, but the apex court has yet to address the issue, Shameem said.

“We understand that they are busy,” the Deputy Prosecutor General said.