417 people remanded indefinitely last year; all still in custody

Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office)’s annual report shows 417 people were remanded in custody indefinitely last year.

According to the annual report published by PG Office last Thursday, 57 out of the 417 people remanded in custody indefinitely have not been admitted to remand prisons due to space constraints. In this regard, 21 of them remain in custodial facilities in atolls.

Ten of the people remanded in custody indefinitely have spent over 200 days in custody,

The highest number of people remanded indefinitely remain in custody at Maafushi Prison, accounting for 285 people. This is followed by Hulhumale’ Prison with 70 people.

Two people who have been detained pending the outcome of their trial remain under house arrest. Three children remain in custody at juvenile detention centres.

Dozens of people have spent an extensive amount of time in indefinite remand. They include four people who have been in custody for six years, eight people who have been in custody for five years, 22 people who have been in custody for over four years, 39 people who have been in custody for over three years, 69 people who have been in custody for over two years and 83 people who have been in custody for over an year. Meanwhile, 192 people have remained in custody for less than a year.

PG Office noted that it had undertaken efforts to review the remand of individuals who had been remanded in custody pending the outcome of their trial following 30 days in custody. As per the office, some of them were provided leniency during the review in consideration of the status of their cases.

However, the office affirmed that none of them include suspects that have been remanded in custody, deeming them a threat to society over cases involving child abuse, possession of sharp-edged weapons, murder and drug trafficking via networks.