The Prosecutor General's (PG) office has announced that individuals held in prolonged pre-trial detention are being given a second chance through an electronic monitoring system, such as electronic tagging.
In a statement, the PG office said those released under the new parole system will be determined after a special assessment conducted by the police and corrections.
It will assess the risk to society by their release and will also describe the extent to which the released individual should be monitored.
The electronic tagging will be done by applying to the court for a review of the remand. They can be released for a maximum of 100 days.
Such individuals can apply to the court for a review of their remand every 100 days. If any such individual violates conditions imposed by the court, the PG office will immediately request the court to detain the person.
The opportunity has now been opened for the lawyers of the detainees to apply for relief.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu previously held discussions with advocates representing individuals held in prolonged pre-trial detention following protests in Male'.
Suspects of child sexual abuse can also apply
The PG office said those detained on charges of various sexual offences, including child sexual abuse, will also be able to apply for relief under the new system.
A spokesperson for the PG office told Adhadhu that all detainees can apply under the new system, but the PG office does not have the intention of releasing those accused of sexual crimes.
"They can apply. But we will not release them. Everyone can apply. But it is not the policy of the Prosecutor General to release a person accused of sexually abusing children," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that their policy is to keep such persons in custody as encouraged by the law.
But the PG office could not explain why it allowed the suspects of child sexual abuse to apply for relief.
Meanwhile, Muizzu earlier said those in custody on charges of sexual assault of children will not be released with electronic tagging.
"It's an electronic monitoring system to release some people from prolonged pre-trial detention. There are about 100 people involved in sexual offences," he said during his weekly podcast.
"Sexual abuse of children, overall, on sexual charges. On charges of sexual offences. They are not included. I don't want them to be tagged and locked up at home," he said.
