Prosecutor General of the Maldives

Prosecutor General of the Republic of Maldives
ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޕްރޮސިކިއުޓަރ ޖެނެރަލް (Dhivehi)
Incumbent Abbas Shareef since 18 September 2024
Prosecutor General's Office
Style	The Honourable
Type	Public procurator
Nominator	People's Majlis
Appointer	President of the Maldives
Term length	Five years
Formation	7 September 2008;16 years ago (2008-09-07)
First holder	Ahmed Muizzu
Website	pgoffice.gov.mv

The Prosecutor General of the Maldives is the chief legal officer responsible for conducting criminal prosecutions in the Republic of Maldives. The post was established under the 2008 Constitution, on 7 September 2008, and its primary role is to ensure the fair and impartial prosecution of criminal cases in the Maldives. ^{[1] [2]} The Prosecutor General (PG) is appointed by the President of the Maldives, with the approval of the People's Majlis, and serves for a term of five years, with eligibility for reappointment. ^[3]

Since its establishment in 2008, there has been 4 Prosecutors General.

History

The post of Prosecutor General was established on 7 September 2008. ^[4]

Powers

Article 220 of the Constitution of the Maldives stipulates that the Prosecutor General is required to carry out their duties in accordance with the Constitution and laws enacted by the People's Majlis. ^[5]

Responsibilities

• To supervise the prosecution of all criminal offences in the Maldives, and to consider and assess evidence presented by investigating bodies to determine whether charges should be pursued. ^[5]
• To institute and conduct criminal proceedings against any person before any court in respect of any alleged offence. ^[5]
• To oversee the legality of preliminary inquiries and investigations into alleged criminal activity. ^[5]
• To monitor and review the circumstances and conditions under which any person is arrested, detained or otherwise deprived of freedom prior to trial.
• To order any investigation that deems desirable into complaints of criminal activity or into any other criminal activity of which he becomes aware.
• To take over, review and continue any criminal proceedings instituted by any prosecuting body authorized to initiate prosecutions pursuant to a law enacted by the People's Majilis, and at his discretion to discontinue any criminal proceedings at any stage prior to judgment. ^[5]
• To review or revert any decisions to prosecute or not to prosecute any alleged offender, or to discontinue any prosecution. ^[5]
• To appeal any judgment, verdict or decision in a criminal matter; To issue policy directives which shall be observed in the entire prosecutorial process. ^[5]
• To uphold the constitutional order, the law, and the rights and freedoms of all citizens. ^[5]

Prosecutors general

No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office			Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1	Ahmed Muizzu	Ahmed Muizzu	26 July 2009	25 November 2013	4 years, 122 days	[6] [7]
Vacant (25 November 2013 – 22 July 2014)
2		Muhthaz Muhsin	22 July 2014	11 November 2015	1 year, 112 days	[8]
3		Aishath Bisam	24 November 2015	28 November 2019	4 years, 127 days	[9]
4		Hussain Shameem	8 December 2019	22 August 2024	4 years, 258 days	[10] [11]
Vacant (22 August – 18 September 2024)
5		Abbas Shareef	18 September 2024	Incumbent	312 days	[12]

References

1. "Maldives - Legal System". Federal Judicial Center . Retrieved 24 August 2024.
2. "ދައުލަތުގެ މުއައްސަސާތައް" [State institutions](PDF). The President's Office (in Divehi). p. 4. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
3. "REVIEW OF APPOINTMENT AND DISMISSAL OF MEMBERS OF SELECTED INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS OF MALDIVES" (PDF). Transparency Maldives: 29. 2 April 2017.
4. "Introduction to the Office". Prosecutor General's Office. Retrieved 24 August 2024. The Prosecutor General's Office was established in accordance with Article 220 of the Constitution ratified on 07 August 2008, which stipulates that there shall be an independent and impartial Prosecutor General in Maldives.
5. "Works, Aim, and Vision - Main Works". Prosecutor General's Office. Retrieved 22 August 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
6. "The President appoints Uz Ahmed Muizzu as the Prosecutor General". The President's Office . 26 July 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
7. "Prosecutor General Uz. Ahmed Muizzu resigns". The President's Office . 25 November 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
8. "President appoints Uz. Muhthaz Muhusin as the Prosecutor General". The President's Office. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
9. "Former Prosecutor Generals". Prosecutor General's Office.
10. "President appoints Uz Hussain Shameem as the Prosecutor General". The President's Office . 8 December 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
11. Hussain, Aishath (23 August 2024). "PG Shameem Resigns Amidst Parliamentary No-Confidence Debate". Voice of Free Press. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
12. "The President appoints Justice (Retired) Uz. Abbas Shareef as the Prosecutor General". The President's Office. Retrieved 18 September 2024.