The Deputy High Commissioner of the Maldives to Singapore and former Prosecutor General, Muhuthaz Muhsin, has stated that the current Administration will not grant clemency to convicted individuals for electoral gain.

He made the remarks in response to a post on X by Malé City mayoral candidate Zariyandh Ismail, who alleged that the previous administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih released 1,905 prisoners for political purposes, thereby posing risks to public safety.

The comments follow recent media reports that Ismail Asif – who was recently arrested in connection with the theft of MVR 4 million from apartments at Nalahiya Residence – was released from prison after his initial 10-year sentence was reduced to 5 days during the previous administration.

In his post, Zariyandh detailed that prisoner releases were timed to coincide with key elections under the Solih administration. In this regard, he highlighted that 762 prisoners were released ahead of the 2019 parliamentary elections; 458 prisoners were released prior to the 2021 local council elections; 256 individuals were released in connection with the 2022 MDP primary election; and 429 prisoners were pardoned ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

He further alleged that approximately 70 per cent of these releases were carried out under presidential clemency.

Responding to these claims, Muhuthaz said that while the power to grant pardons and commute sentences has long existed, it had not always been exercised responsibly in the past. He added that, since assuming office, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has strengthened the framework governing presidential pardons to prevent their misuse for undue political advantage.

As a result, he emphasised that convicted individuals will no longer receive presidential pardons for electoral purposes.