Former President Solih pardoned 256 convicts, President Muizzu pardoned 13

President's Office has stated today that in the run up to the 2019 parliamentary elections, then President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had issued presidential pardons for 256 persons, while for the last parliamentary elections, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had issued only 13 pardons.

The President's Office revealed these numbers in response to a Right to Information (RTI) request submitted by Mihaaru News.

As per the statistics they shared, 13 persons were issued pardons and had sentences commuted within the first four months of this year on the initiative of the President. In the same period, one additional person was pardoned by President Muizzu on the advise of the Clemency Board.

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has earlier alleged that the incumbent government had issued pardons to several dangerous criminals in the run up to the parliamentary elections held in April.

During the previous administration led by MDP, during the 2019 parliamentary election, former President Solih had pardoned 274 convicts during the first four months of that year, including 256 of his own volition and 18 on advice of the Clemency Board.

Although Mihaaru requested for details of the offences those who were pardoned through the Clemency Board had been convicted of, that information was not revealed. The President's Office said that they do not maintain separate records of offences of those given clemency or pardoned.

A request was also submitted for details of the number of people who were released under the Parole Act during the period. However, the President's Office responded that they do not have this information, adding that such records would be held by Maldives Corrections Service.

As per the information disclosed by the President's Office, 122 persons were pardoned in the past year under the advice of the Clemency Board. Then President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih granted pardons or clemency on his own initiative to 379 convicts.

Police Spokesperson and Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan has earlier said that the rising crime rates in Male' is a result of 434 criminals having been released into the community last year. He said then that these persons had been released without a proper mechanism in place to monitor them.

Former Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed said that it is a huge concern that governments, both past and present, release persons accused of crimes and repeat offenders, as well as approving parole and clemency to those convicted of major crimes. He claimed that this practice has unfortunately now become commonplace in the country.

He, however, said that it would be wrong to think that criminals should always be kept behind bars, adding that parole and clemency are critical parts of the system. However, he highlighted that these should be implemented responsibly.