Ex-PG Shameem: Bill Criminalising Economic Harm Is a Ploy to Prosecute State Leaders

Former Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem has described a government-submitted bill amending the Penal Code as a calculated move that would enable the prosecution of state leaders. The bill, tabled by Maafannu Dhekunu constituency MP Abdullah Rifau on behalf of the government, seeks to criminalise acts targeting a specific religion or nation, as well as actions causing economic damage to the Maldives, aligning with Maldives' obligations under the Genocide Convention. Shameem, writing on his blog, said the bill's real purpose is to suppress dissent against the government's decision to lease 500 hectares of Rasmalay to UAE's Eagle Hills. He highlighted that the provision criminalising acts that damage the state's economy differs from traditional crimes, as it does not require proof of malicious intent, making it easier for prosecutors to secure convictions. Shameem also noted the bill downgrades the penalty for killings within the scope of genocide to a second-degree crime, while ordinary murder remains first-degree, and criticised the absence of provisions on international tribunal jurisdiction and intent exemptions.