Homeland Security and Technology Minister Ali Ihusaan has stated that there will be no cases of children being stuck in police custody under this government.
He said this in response to a question from a citizen at the ‘Aha’ Forum held yesterday.
Minister Ihusaan said that once a child is taken into police custody from the crime scene, the trials of the case will be expedited through the Juvenile Court. He added that the government is currently taking children into custody to expedite trials.
There will be no cases involving children in custody, he said.
The minister added that children under the age of 15 should be held responsible for their crimes within the justice system because these children are often used to commit crimes.
However, the minister noted that the existing system in Maldives does not allow for action against children and for them to be put through a rehabilitation process.
The minister said the government is looking into ways to establish a system to take care of children taken into police custody and bring them out as useful people in society.
The Halfway House Juvenile Residential Treatment Centers in Kudahuvadhoo and Hoarafushi are currently being operated, he said.