CP requests pardoned convicts to refrain from crime and to be responsible members of society

The Commissioner of Police, Hussain Waheed has made a request to the 169 individuals who received a Presidential Pardon while serving their prison sentences.

He requested that they take this golden opportunity to better their lives, avoid crime and criminal behaviour and to become responsible members of society.

The Commissioner made this statement while giving an interview to Police Life following the President’s decision to pardon said individuals yesterday, adding that while this opportunity was a blessing, one should not expect a pardon every time and that the opportunity should be used to the fullest in the most productive manner.

He also stated that seeing a convicted individual as a criminal permanently is not helpful and that he believes that all individuals should be given the chance to rehabilitate and redeem themselves, adding that welcoming back rehabilitated individuals instead of ostracizing them is the social responsibility of every individual.

The Commissioner went on to state that he believed that every individual pardoned had a role to play in the community and urged them to do their part to curb crime and criminal behaviour in the society.

He then stated that seeing said individuals being taken to court again for further criminal behaviour is completely unacceptable, adding that the Police would do whatever it takes to bring said individual to justice in such circumstances.

The Commissioner of Police spoke at the 81st Anniversary of the Police Service in the Maldives, stating that spreading discord, perpetuating violence, disregarding laws in public and to spread fear amongst the people would not be tolerated, adding that whether such a person was a politically influential person, a financially well-off person or influential in any other way, they would not escape from the reach of the law.

He also stated that the Maldives Police Service has always met individuals who group themselves, call themselves various names and perpetrate criminal acts with the appropriate response and would continue to do so.