When can the Maldives president commute the death penalty?
In a blow to groups urging the Maldives to reinstate a moratorium on the death penalty, the high court has ruled that the president cannot commute the death sentence for individuals convicted of first-degree murder. Judges, however, specified other instances where the president can intervene.
02 Dec 2015, 9:00 AM
After three years of deliberation, the high court has ruled that the president of the Maldives may not commute the death penalty for individuals convicted of first-degree murder, if all of the victim’s heirs desire capital punishment.
The ruling is a blow to human rights groups who have been urging the government to reinstate a moratorium on the death penalty.
The Maldives in 2014 ended a six-decade moratorium on the death penalty and has now allocated funds to build a facility to implement the death sentence in the 2016 budget.
The death penalty was last enforced here in 1953.
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