President Mohamed Nasheed has today ratified the Bill on Prohibition of the Issuance of Threats and Possession of Dangerous and Sharp Weapons.
Following ratification, the bill has been published in the Government Gazette.
The Act prohibits the criminal use of sharp and dangerous weapons and threatening behaviour.
Under this Act, a person found to be in possession of an object stipulated in Article 2 (a) of the Act, in a public place shall receive a penalty of 1 – 3 years jail, in addition to the penalty stated in Article 2(6) of the Act which stipulates a jail term of 6 to 18 months.
According to the Act, police and security staffs have the authority to check a person suspected with possession of sharp weapons. Also, it is prohibited to sell sharp weapons to children under 18 years of age.
The Act also mandates the Ministry of Home Affairs to draft and submit to the People’s Majlis, all regulations that should be effective under the Act, within four months after the enactment of the Act.
