Lawmakers hail long-awaited evidence bill
Lawmakers have hailed a proposed new evidence law as key to addressing longstanding challenges faced by the judiciary and strengthening the criminal justice system.
15 Feb 2017, 9:00 AM
Lawmakers have hailed a proposed new evidence law as key to strengthening the criminal justice system and addressing longstanding challenges faced by the judiciary.
The evidence bill submitted on behalf of the government by MP Ali Shah of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives was accepted 59-1 with five abstentions at Monday’s sitting and sent to a committee for review.
“The objective of the bill is to ensure that the people get a fair trial by detailing and clarifying the procedure for evidence, one of the most basic aspects in the right for determining the use of evidence in court proceedings,” Shah said while introducing the bill.
The existing evidence law enacted in 1976 is two pages long. Along with a one-sentence 1972 Act on Female Witnesses, the outdated evidence law has since been used to collect, analyse, and process evidence.
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