The government is working towards lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 12 years, Attorney General Ahmed Usham has said.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday over the bullying and assault of a boy in Alif Alif Rashdoo, Usham said reducing the age of criminal responsibility was among several amendments that the government wants to make to the juvenile justice law.
"The government has now decided to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 years to 12 years," Usham said.
Moreover, the current legal process for detaining a minor lacks clarity, Usham said. There was conflict regarding the court that should issue the arrest order, he said.
Speaking at the press conference, Education Minister Dr. Ismail Shafeeu said 26 cases of bullying have been reported to the ministry so far this year. The number was relatively high, he added.
The main challenge for addressing bullying was a shortage of school counsellors, Minister Shafeeu noted. Only about 50 schools across the country have counsellors, he said.
The bullying incident at the Rasdhoo mosque surfaced after a video was made public. A joint investigation was underway by police and other state agencies, police said.
