The Judiciary Committee of the People’s Majlis today decided to investigate in writing the circumstances surrounding the parole release of Abdullah Ibrahim, who had been serving a sentence for large-scale drug trafficking in Addu.
Abdullah Ibrahim was convicted on 19 May last year of attempting to import 98 kilograms of drugs into the Maldives. He was released on parole by the Parole Board on 29 September. Home Minister Ali Ihusaan has described the decision as one taken without proper regard for legal considerations and in violation of policy. Six members of the Parole Board have since been removed.
The matter was raised in today’s committee meeting by Galolhu North member Mohamed Ibrahim. Members noted that merely removing board members does not constitute a resolution of the case. Addu Hulhudhoo member Mohamed Shahid said it is the committee’s responsibility to clarify for the public how the events unfolded. Faresmaathoda member Ashraf Rasheed supported a proposal to seek written answers now that the board members are no longer in place. The committee approved the proposal unanimously.
Kanditheemu member Ameen Faisal said simply removing the members is not an adequate solution and that the strictest possible steps must be taken regarding those who were removed. He argued that responsibility must be assigned so that a person is either found guilty or fined, and that the same responsibility cannot be reassigned.
Minister Ali Ihusaan has previously said new members will be appointed to the Parole Board so that its work can continue.
The case has drawn public attention because of the scale of the drug trafficking involved and the speed of the parole decision.
