Presidential candidate of opposition coalition PPM/PNC Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said on Thursday night that if he is elected into office, he will formulate a bail law and put in the work to improve the judiciary service.
Dr. Muizzu, who serves the Mayor of Malé City, said during his campaign visit to Noonu atoll Velidhoo that bail is a legally accessible option in many other nations. He expressed his intention to implement a bail act and subsequently reform the judicial system to ensure its effectiveness and fairness for all.
The initial presidential candidate for Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) former President Abdulla Yameen was disqualified from running in the election as he is currently serving an 11 year prison sentence following his conviction for money laundering and bribery. The higher courts had earlier concluded that they were unable to grant him bail due to the absence of a relevant law in the country. Dr. Muizzu, pledged to utilize legal avenues to secure Yameen's release during his tenure in office if elected.
Dr. Muizzu said that apart from enacting a law to provide bail, a number of measures have been planned to improve the quality of courts to eliminate barriers that hinder access to justice for people living in rural areas.
Expanding upon the manifesto's commitments for judicial reform, Dr. Muizzu disclosed his intention to introduce essential amendments to the law, aiming to modernize the operations of the drug court.
“Changing the drug court system to a level that guarantees the well-being and safety of the community is part of our reforms to the judiciary,” Dr. Muizzu said.
Highlighting the severe challenge of drug abuse in the nation, Dr. Muizzu said that the issue will not be resolved solely through speeches or government initiatives. He said that the entire community must unite to address this issue.
“There is a need to improve the quality of drug rehabilitation currently underway. We need to see they are not criminals, but as people that need care within the Islamic means to integrate them back to society,” he said.
He said such centres would be set up in different parts of the country and he was considering setting up one of them in Velidhoo as well.
Dr. Muizzu said that substantial efforts are required to address the major issues in the society, which can be achieved by becoming a community that prioritize the nation's welfare.
"The country and its islands can only experience development if our society undergoes reform. We can achieve this through a shared national vision."
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