Parliament of the Maldives has passed the amendment bill to the Anti-Terrorism Act to give the Maldives Police Service (MPS) three months to investigate terrorism-related cases.
The parliament passed the motion with the amendments proposed by the Parliamentary Committee on National Security Services, with 51 votes in favour. The amendment bill was proposed on behalf of the government in May to solve the challenges faced by authorities in investigating terrorism-related cases.
The national security services committee proposed new amendments to the bill during its review, which includes allowing the MPS to request the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) to extend the investigation to three months if the investigation surpasses 45 days.
The amendment also dictates that if MPS is unable to conclude its investigation within three months due to an issue that is beyond its jurisdiction, the PGO is allowed to extend the investigation by 15 days. MPS will also be allowed to investigate a terrorism-related case for three to nine months based on the case and the situation.
The committee also proposed amendments to more clearly define procedures in arresting and remanding suspects and procedures in arresting suspects without a court order. Other amendments include means to fast-track cases regarding suspects who returned to the Maldives after participating in foreign conflicts and to provide them with rehabilitation. The committee also proposed an amendment that dictates that suspects charged with terrorism, or suspects and their families who returned from foreign conflicts, and convicts who are serving prison sentences after being found guilty of terrorism are required to be in rehabilitation until they are released.