The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has initiated proceedings to request the court to convert the sentences of individuals who fail to pay fines imposed for criminal offences into jail sentences.
The PG Office noted that while original sentences for criminal offences typically carry jail terms, there are cases where suspects are ordered to pay fines instead. The PG Office insisted that these fines must be paid promptly per the court’s timeline and deadline.
Convicts who received fines but failed to pay them within the specified timeframe are at risk, with the PG Office petitioning courts to convert these fines into prison sentences. Consequently, offenders will serve time corresponding to the severity of their crimes.
The request to change the sentence can be initiated 30 days after the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) notifies prosecutors of an individual’s failure to pay the fine, according to the PG Office’s policy.
The court, in determining fines, considers the financial capabilities of the individuals involved before they are fined, the PG Office said. It also stressed that there are no excuses for missing payment deadlines set by the courts.