Committee votes to issue MoniCon Order against 9 individuals

The MoniCon (Monitor and Control) Committee has voted to request the High Court for MoniCon Order against nine individuals.

The decision of the Committee comes amid a spike in gang violence in Male’ City. The exact date on which the request will be submitted is unclear at this point.

Police had requested the Ministry of Home Affairs for tags on 16 individuals deemed to be a menace to society. The MoniCon Committee – which consists of officials from both Ministry of Home Affairs and the police – decided to tag nine of those individuals.

This is the first time criminals will be tagged since the resignation of former Minister of Home Affairs, Umar Naseer.

Members of the MoniCon Committee – which is authorized to request the High Court for MoniCon Order – are; Minister of Home Affairs Azleen Ahmed, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Dr. Mohamed Shainee, Minister of Finance and Treasury Ahmed Munawwar, and Commissioner of Police Ahmed Areef.

The authority to requested for a MoniCon Order had previously rested solely on Minister of Home Affairs. The MoniCon Committee was established and authorized to make the request in June, 2016.

Article 29 of Anti-Terrorism Act grants the authority to request for a MoniCon Order to the Minister of Home Affairs. The law also empowers the Minister of Home Affairs to make any changes to the Order or cease the Order.