President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced plans to establish a Public Defenders Office, with the service set to be introduced this year.

In his Presidential Address today, he stated that the initiative aims to strengthen the criminal justice system by ensuring legal representation for those who cannot afford a lawyer in criminal cases.

To facilitate this, the President revealed that a special bill for the establishment of the Public Defenders Office will be submitted to Parliament this year. He emphasised that providing legal aid is crucial to ensuring fairness in the justice system, aligning with practices in independent democracies where public defenders are assigned to assist accused individuals in criminal cases.

Addressing broader challenges in the criminal justice system, President Dr Muizzu highlighted delays in hearings and verdicts as major issues. He stressed the importance of expediting case proceedings by scheduling hearings efficiently and ensuring that courts have the necessary space to operate effectively. To address this, he announced that construction of the Superior Court Complex in Hulhumalé will commence this year.

Until the complex is completed, the Criminal Court and Drug Court will be relocated to more spacious buildings, with work progressing rapidly to ensure completion by August. The President noted that this expansion would allow for the swift processing of pending cases and provide a permanent solution to the issue of prolonged remand.

In efforts to enhance public confidence in the judiciary, the President also announced planned reforms to the Department of Judicial Administration. Additionally, special courts will be introduced through the legal system to accelerate case resolution in specific legal areas.