Bill to criminalize acts harming economic security submitted to Maldivian parliament

A bill to amend the Penal Code, making it a criminal offense to harm the Maldives’ economic security, was submitted to the People’s Majlis today. The bill was introduced by Maafannu Dhekunu constituency MP Abdullah Rifau, a member of the PNC. The proposed amendment adds a new Section 630 to the Penal Code, defining the offense as intentionally or recklessly damaging critical infrastructure, computer systems, disrupting essential services, or halting operations of a major revenue-generating sector, causing significant economic damage. Major economic damage is defined as disruption to economic activities or a decline in financial and economic stability. The bill outlines graded penalties: for senior state or government officials, it is a second-degree felony with a base penalty of six years imprisonment, extendable to 15 years or reducible to three years with fines up to one million rufiyaa. For ordinary individuals, it is a third-degree felony with a base penalty of three years, two months, and 12 days, a maximum of eight years, a minimum of one year, seven months, and six days, and fines up to 400,000 rufiyaa. The bill also includes provisions to align with the International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and to increase penalties for acts against Islam.