Rumours Circulating about Bribes for Clemency: Speaker Nasheed

Majlis Speaker Mohamed Nasheed said that he had become aware of circulating rumours of bribes being taken to pardon criminals who had been granted clemency.

Nasheed mentioned this during a meeting of the Parliament Judiciary Committee. After a brief interruption in the audio feed, Speaker Nasheed was heard speaking about clemency.

A special board to handle pardons exists under the Clemency Act.

After mentioning that he had too frequently heard rumours of bribes being taken for clemency, Speaker Nasheed focused his attention on the Committee Head, MP Imthiyaz Fahmy (Maafannu-Uthuru). The broadcast feed had temporarily failed at that point.

It is noteworthy that several incarcerated individuals convicted for major crimes have received pardons through the Clemency Board. Among them, an individual who had been sentenced to 25 years in prison on a drug-charge has had his sentenced lightened to a house-arrest.

Although rumours have been circulated that these pardons come about through bribery, no high official has made any comment on the matter.