The Criminal Court has sentenced a Maldivian man to prison for intentionally failing to fast during the month of Ramadan.
The conviction is related to an incident on March 16 (Ramadan 28), when the individual was observed drinking a can of energy drink while seated near the PRU counter at the Shaheed Hussain Adam Building, the Maldives Police Service headquarters, during daylight hours.
Following the incident, the man was arrested and held in remand for 16 days during the investigation. When the case proceeded to trial at the Criminal Court, he pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him by the state.
In its verdict delivered on June 9, the Criminal Court sentenced the man to 27 days in prison for the offense of failing to fast.
However, under the Criminal Procedure Act, the duration spent in custody during the investigation and trial must be deducted from the total sentence. As a result, the individual is required to serve a remaining prison term of 11 days.
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is a fundamental pillar of Islam. It is prohibited to abstain from fasting without a valid excuse under Sharia law.
Under Section 616 of the Penal Code, it is a criminal offense to abstain from fasting or to break one's fast during Ramadan without a valid religious or medical justification.
