The Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has opened a branch in Dhuvaafaru, Raa Atoll.
Prosecutor General (PG) Hussain Shameem and Vice President of Raa Atoll Council Abdulla Rasheed inaugurated the new branch at a special ceremony held on the island.
Speaking at the ceremony, PG Shameem said the new branch will greatly ease the work of the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and the courts. The PG said the branch is also expected to enhance the services provided to citizens and the coordination between the PGO and the police officers on the island. He highlighted that a large number of criminal cases are filed in Raa Atoll and that the PGO is working to assess the situation in the atoll.
Furthermore, PG Shameem said law enforcement is not only concerned with punishing criminals but also working to rehabilitate them. As such, the PG said amendment bills have been proposed to reduce prison sentences as part of the work to rehabilitate criminals into productive members of society.
He noted that individuals who commit a minor crime for the first time should be provided with the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves before they are imprisoned. He said individuals who are caught committing a minor crime can be fined and placed in a training programme for their first offence, in order for them to be rehabilitated and released as productive members of society.
Currently, there are 10 branches of the PGO across the country and the office has stated it is working to further expand its services.