Evidence Act will revolutionise the judiciary system: PG Shameem

Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem said on Tuesday that the newly ratified Evidence Act that will reviolutionise the Maldivian judiciary system.

Speaking at a ceremony held to launch three digital portals that can be used to access data and statistics about the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO), Shameem said that the office had commenced awareness initiatives on the new Evidence Act after it was ratified in June, prior to implementation in January 2023.

"The Evidence Act will revolutionise the judiciary service when it is implemented next month. By this time next week, over 80 percent of the prosecutors will have completed these trainings. We are providing assistance to the other relevant authorities as necessary," Shameem said at the event held in Meerumaa conference hall in Malé.

He said the judiciary, particularly prosecution, is an area that makes decisions that affect people's lives. While there are laws that determine how they can work, people's awareness of these matters is not always satisfactory, he said.

Shameem highlighted how accountability is frequently discussed, especially in the context of keeping people in positions of power accountable. He said that this cannot be achieved if there is no evidence, and spoke about the "tradition" of protecting those people by not speaking about their misdoings. He said if this tradition is maintained, such people cannot be held accountable.

Three portals named "Unsuru," "Aamahi," and Lethun" were launched at this ceremony. Shameem said the aim of the office is to eliminate the need for people to visit the PG office in order to obtain information.

The "Aamahi" portal can be used to access the decisions taken by PGO, and it also shows the performance of its lawyers.

"Lethun" database is a platform where all criminal justice laws can be accessed in one place. All laws that have been translated to English, court decisions, and all criminal cases decided by the Supreme Court since its inception will be available on this platform.

"Unsuru" is the PGO's media website where news related to its work will be publicised.

Supreme Court Justice Aisha Shujoon Mohamed, who was the chief guest at the ceremony, said criminal justice is connected to public safety and peace in society.

The judge highlighted the importance of creating public awareness about the legal system and how it evolves. She said that publications are an effective way of researching laws, finding loopholes in the system, and identifying positive aspects of the legal system, and that the digital platforms would ease the burden on those who provide these services now.