News

Appellant courts making sound decisions in child sex crimes: PG

Published

2 months ago

23/03/2024

The appellant courts have been making quick and sound decisions in response to appeals filed over pardons or leniency towards people suspected or convicted of sexual offenses against children, says Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem.

The remark comes amid increased public outrage over a decision by a court last week to release a suspected child sex offender.

Amid the growing backlash, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu wrote on X on Saturday that leniency towards child sex offenders is completely unacceptable.

“Pardoning or showing leniency towards people arrested or convicted for sexual offenses against children and releasing them is completely unacceptable,” he wrote. “The government has been instructing the [Prosecutor General’s Office] PG to appeal such decisions as soon as possible.”

Shameem told Sun that the PGO has appealed the suspect’s release, and treating the case as a special priority under instructions from President Muizzu and Attorney General Ahmed Usham.

“Appellant courts have been making quick and sound decisions in such cases,” he said.

On Friday, PGO announced its decision to sign a deal with a person arrested for possession of child porn.

The announcement served to further fuel public outrage over the situation.

The deal, which the PGO said was signed on November 15, 2023, saved the 32-year-old man from a potential jail term.

A spokesperson from the PGO told Sun on Friday that the office made the decision because there isn’t a separate charge for possession of child porn, and because the suspect showed remorse.

“There isn’t a separate charge for possession of child pornography in the law. Its just the uniform porn possession charge – which carries a prison sentence of one month and 24 days,” he said.

“A one-year reprimand agreement was made after confessed and showed remorse.”

In a press briefing on March 17, the police said they were investigating two cases based on information shared by foreign law enforcement agencies that monitor social media sites for child pornography regarding people based in Maldives who have downloaded pornographic content, including photos and videos, of children.

The two cases included that of the 32-year-old suspect.

According to the police, the victims in the cases appear as young as two years old.

Source(s): sun.mv

News

Minister confirms redeployment of all Indian militants

Published

10 hours ago

11/05/2024

Minister of Defence Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon has disclosed that the 76 Indian militants stationed in the Maldives have been successfully redeployed. The redeployment of foreign troops from the nation is a commitment of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

The withdrawal of the Indian military troops stationed by May 10 in the Maldives, as per the pledge of President Dr. Muizzu, were officially announced today at a press conference held at the President’s Office. The troops were redeployed in batches, with the first batch redeployed in March. This was followed by the withdrawal of the second batch of militants in April and the last batch on May 10.

Details on the withdrawal of the foreign troops are as follows: In March, a total of 26 soldiers who were stationed in Gan, Addu City were redeployed, with 12 militants redeployed on March 7 and 14 militants on March 9. Meanwhile, 25 military personnel in Hanimaadhoo, Haa Dhaalu Atoll withdrew, with 13 soldiers redeployed on April 7 and 12 on May 9. The troops stationed in Kadhdhoo, Laamu Atoll were redeployed with 12 personnel withdrawing the platforms on May 7 and 13 by May 9.

Speaking at the press conference, Minister Ghassan revealed that the foreign soldiers working at Senahiya Military Hospital are doctors, and there were no plans to redeploy them. The minister assured that these soldiers were not partaking in any military roles.

Source(s): PsmNews

News

Foreign Minister prioritises talks with India to expedite projects

Published

11 hours ago

11/05/2024

Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer has affirmed that significant strides have been made in expediting projects initiated in the Maldives with financial assistance from the Indian Government.

Following his official visit to India at the invitation of Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, Minister Zameer said that a spectrum of initiatives across the nation has been kickstarted through loans and grants from the Government of India during the previous administration. He emphasised the current government’s commitment to prioritising the resumption and completion of these projects. He also underscored his dedication to this endeavor during his recent visit to India.

Additionally, Minister Zameer disclosed that both ministers engaged in bilateral discussions on May 9 to address pivotal matters aimed at expediting the projects. He underscored the discussions with Minister S. Jaishankar, focusing on the operational dynamics of the committees entrusted with executing these projects.

During the official discussions between the two nations, Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated the significance of India’s ongoing projects in the Maldives.

Source(s): PsmNew

News

Redeployment of Indian troops, attributed to critical thinking of President

Published

11 hours ago

11/05/2024

Minister of Defence Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon has revealed that all the Indian military troops, previously stationed in Maldivian platforms were effectively redeployed due to the strategic decision-making skills and critical thinking of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. The remarks were made by the minister during a press conference held to officially announce the redeployment of all Indian militants.

Addressing the media, Minister Ghassan disclosed that a total of 76 military personnel were stationed across three platforms in the Maldives. The three platforms include Hanimaadhoo in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Gan in Addu City and Kadhdhoo in Laamu Atoll. The minister further confirmed the successful withdrawal of all foreign troops in the country by the deadline set by the government, which was May 10.

Minister Ghassan stated that the successful redeployment of troops through series of discussions in a small period of time, were attributed to the critical and strategic thinking of President Dr. Muizzu.

Source(s): PsmNews