The government has begun drafting amendments to strengthen the Maldives’ parole laws, with proposed changes expected to further restrict the release of people convicted of major drug trafficking offences.
Homeland Security and Technology Minister Ali Ihusaan announced the planned reforms on Tuesday, shortly after authorities reversed the parole granted to convicted drug trafficker Abdulla Ibrahim, widely known as Abucha, and returned him to prison.
Speaking at a press conference, Ihusaan said the Maldives Prisons and Parole Act needs to be updated to reflect changes made to other major pieces of criminal legislation since the law came into force more than a decade ago.
The Maldives Prisons and Parole Act was enacted in 2013 and continues to provide the legal framework governing parole eligibility, conditional release and the responsibilities of the Parole Board.
However, Ihusaan said legislation in other areas, including laws dealing with drug offences, has since undergone significant changes.
As a result, the government believes corresponding amendments are required to make the parole framework more comprehensive and ensure it reflects the current legal environment.
Work on drafting the amendments is already underway, according to the minister.
A particular focus of the changes will be preventing people convicted of serious drug trafficking offences from receiving opportunities to return to the community through parole.
Ihusaan said granting such releases does not reflect the policy of the current administration.
“The Parole Act clearly outlines statutory procedures. Releasing individuals involved in these types of crimes is not government policy,” he said.
The minister added that the administration would not take decisions that compromise public safety or attempt to bypass established procedures.
The announcement comes amid scrutiny of the parole system following the brief release of Abucha, who was convicted in connection with a major drug trafficking operation.
Authorities reversed his parole after the Homeland Security Ministry reviewed the decision and concluded that certain factors required under the law had not been assessed in the prescribed manner.
Abucha was subsequently taken back into custody to continue serving his sentence.
Six members of the Parole Board who participated in approving his release are also being removed, with the government announcing that new appointments will be made to fill the vacancies.
The controversy has drawn renewed attention to how parole decisions are made and the criteria used to determine whether a prisoner is ready to complete part of a sentence outside prison.
Under the Maldives Prisons and Parole Act, parole does not erase or end a prison sentence.
Instead, eligible prisoners may be allowed to serve the remaining portion of their sentence in the community under conditions imposed as part of their release.
The system is intended to support rehabilitation and help prisoners gradually reintegrate into society while remaining subject to restrictions and supervision.
Eligibility is determined through several statutory requirements.
These include completing the minimum period of imprisonment required by law and consideration of the inmate’s behaviour while serving the sentence.
The Parole Board established under the Act is responsible for deciding whether parole should be granted and whether an existing parole arrangement should later be revoked.
Prisoners released on parole are required to comply with conditions throughout the remainder of the parole period.
If those conditions are breached, or if the individual commits another offence while on parole, the release can be revoked and the person returned to prison to continue serving the sentence.
The proposed amendments are now expected to examine whether the existing framework provides sufficient restrictions for serious offenders, particularly those convicted in major drug trafficking cases.
Ihusaan said strengthening the legislation would ensure the parole system continues to serve its rehabilitation purpose without creating avenues for offenders convicted of serious crimes to be released in circumstances the government considers a risk to public safety.
