PG Office submits dismissed case against Irufan to DJA

The Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office has submitted the case involving the smuggling of 72 kilograms of drugs into the Maldives which was dismissed by the High Court for non payment of the registration fee to the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA).

High Court Registrar Mariyam Khoorsheedha decided not to accept the PG’s appeal against the Criminal Court’s acquittal of accused Irufan, citing that the registration fee was not paid by the deadline, even after a payment notice had been emailed.

The PG Office claims it did not receive the email notice on the specified days.

PG Office has now requested the DJA to implement measures to prevent such administrative issues in the future, according to media official Ahmed Shafiu.

Meanwhile, the PG has submitted a request to the High Court bench to review the registrar’s decision.

Appeals against the other two accused; Dhaalu Maaenboodhoo Ambugasdhoshuge Ahmed Naseer and H. Gardenbeauty Mohamed Akram have been accepted, and a bench of judges has been appointed for the hearings.

Irufan, accused of leading the drug smuggling operation in December 2020 via a vessel "Masjaree-2" and the other men were acquitted by the Criminal Court earlier in January this year.

Charges against seven additional suspects were withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.