- The government submitted a bill to Parliament proposing a legal framework to confiscate assets obtained through criminal activity.
- President Muizzu said the legislation would prevent offenders from financially benefiting from the proceeds of crime.
- While Maldivian law already includes provisions on criminal proceeds, forfeiture orders have rarely been enforced, making implementation a central concern.
The government has proposed a new legal framework aimed at preventing individuals convicted of criminal offences from retaining money and property obtained through illegal activity.
The bill on the confiscation of criminal assets was submitted to Parliament on Tuesday. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said the legislation would close avenues through which offenders could financially benefit from the proceeds of crime.
It also seeks to address gaps in existing laws governing the confiscation of state property acquired by people involved in serious criminal offences.
Further information about the proposed framework, including the authorities responsible for tracing and recovering assets and the procedures governing confiscation, has not yet been published on Parliament’s website.
Maldivian law already includes provisions dealing with the proceeds of crime. An amendment to the Drugs Act previously submitted by the current administration also proposed revisions to procedures for seizing and confiscating assets linked to criminal activity.
Courts have ordered the forfeiture of money and property obtained through serious crimes in several cases. However, such orders have rarely been enforced, making implementation a central issue for the proposed legislation.
