President Mohamed Nasheed has today ratified the Clemency Bill.
The bill proposed by the government to set guidelines for the President to grant pardons and commute sentences was passed by the People’s Majlis on 31December 2009.
Following ratification, the bill has been published in the Government Gazette.
Article 115 (s) of the Constitution states that the President has the power “to grant pardons or reductions of sentence as provided by law, to persons convicted of a criminal offence who have no further right of appeal”.
Under the legislation, an 11 member clemency board would be appointed to review and advice the President. The board will work under the supervision of the Attorney General who will be the President of the board.
The government is working on the speeding up the clemency process for eligible convicts.
