The Parliament of Maldives has approved the participation in the Treaty between Maldives and India on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
Following recommendations of the cabinet, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih decided to submit the papers for a parliament approval. The motion was passed by votes from 65 parliamentarians, while 11 votes were cast against. The motion was passed after the Parliamentary Committee on National Security decided to approve the proposal, submitted by President Solih, without any amendments.
However, during the debate on the motion before the vote, opposition parliamentarians, and ruling coalition partner, Leader of Jumhooree Party, Qasim Ibrahim spoke against the treaty, citing it would disrupt the sovereignty of Maldives.
The scope of the treaty covers the facilitation of the widest measures of mutual assistance in the service of summons, execution of warrants and other judicial documents and commissions, in accordance with the treaty and subject to the domestic laws of participating states.
It also includes improving the effectiveness of both countries in the prevention, investigation and prosecution of crime, including crime related to terrorism and tracing, restraints forfeiture or confiscation of funds meant for financing of terrorism as also the proceeds and instruments of crime, through cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
For the purposes of the treaty, the central authorities stated in the treaty shall transmit and receive all requests made under the treaty. As per the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act of the Maldives, the central authority for the Maldives is the Prosecutor General's Office.
The treaty will facilitate the fight against criminal activity, especially crime related to terrorism. It will also aid in the investigation of such matters, obtaining evidence, and broaden the opportunity to interrogate those in question.
Following the decision to partake in the Treaty between the Republic of Maldives and the Republic of India on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, the President's Office will undertake all preliminary legal procedures, in accordance with the Constitution of the Maldives. Apart from India, the government of Maldives is also in discussions with Sri Lanka, UAE and Russia, in pursuing similar treaties.