Criminal Court of the Maldives

The Criminal Court of the Maldives (Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ކްރިމިނަލް ކޯޓު, previously known as the Jinaaee Court) is a Maldivian court of justice of first instance responsible for the practice of Criminal law.^[2]

Criminal Court of the Maldives
ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ކްރިމިނަލް ކޯޓު
Established	2 January 1980
Jurisdiction	Maldives
Location	City courthouse, Maafannu, Malé, Maldives
Authorised by	Judiciary Act Section 53 (b) (2)
Appeals to	High Court
Appeals from	None
Judge term length	Life tenure
Annual budget	MVR 406K[1]
Language	Dhivehi
Website	criminalcourt.gov.mv
Chief Justice of the Maldives
Currently	Ahmed Muthasim Adnan
Since	8 December 2019

History in brief

The court was established along with the Ministry of Justice which established 8 courts, criminal hearings were heard from courts 6, 7, 8. The number was reduced from 8 to 4 and criminal hearings were heard from 1 and 2. The hearings were previously held at a shop in Haa Alif Atoll, before moving to the Justice building. When the name of the Ministry was changed to the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs, the criminal court was designated as Court 3. Before getting separated by the 2008 Constitution and all power has been vested in the Supreme, High and lower courts.^[3]

Notable rulings

• Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom was sentenced to 11 years in jail for money laundering and bribery charges but was overturned by the High Court.^[4][5]
• The court charged Ahmed “Ahandhu” Ismail in connection with murdering human right activists and news journalists.^[6]

See also

• Judiciary of the Maldives