A High Court case filed by the Prosecutor General's Office to declare Addu's 'Scoop' as a gang, halt their sports activities, and classify all affiliates as gang members will be heard behind closed doors, the court has decided.
A preliminary hearing in the case was held to decide how to proceed with hearings.
In this hearing held last night, the bench of judges decided to hold the hearings in closed court.
'Scoop' group's defence also raised a procedural point in count questioning whether hearing had be held in open court. They noted that if the court rules to classify the group as a gang, public hearings in this case could influence later lower court proceedings against its members.
The case is being heard at the High Court by Judges Mohamed Shaneez Abdulla, Abdul Maaniu Hussain and Ibrahim Mahir.
The PG Office argues that Scoop has been and is engaged in organized criminal activity which qualifies them for classification as a gang under the Prevention of Gang and Other Serious Offences Act.
Hence, the State is appealing to the High Court to classify, as stipulated in the law, 'Scoop', 'Scoop Kanmathi', and 'SKP' groups as a gang.
The PG Office is also seeking to classify nine individuals identified as affiliated with the group as gang members.
Further, they have appealed to the court to order the Sports Commissioner to dissolve 'SKP Sports Club', believed to be affiliated with the group, and to order the Addu City Council to remove graffiti displaying 'Scoop', 'Scoop Kanmathi, and 'SKP' from public walls and other spaces.
While this is the second case of the kind submitted to the PG Office by Police, it is the first case taken to court to declare a group as a gang under the Prevention of Gang and Other Serious Offences Act.
