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A government-backed bill seeks to allow the state to seize assets linked to serious crimes and compensate people who suffered losses.
Mariyam Adheela
Male’: The government has submitted a bill to Parliament proposing new rules to seize and sell assets obtained through serious crimes.
The bill was submitted by Fuvahmulah Central MP Ali Fazaadh on behalf of the government.
It allows assets to be taken after a person is convicted. In some cases, the state could also seize assets without a conviction.
The bill covers 15 offences, including terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, murder, corruption and weapons trafficking.
It also covers major financial crimes, including certain tax offences involving more than MVR500,000.
The bill proposes selling seized assets through auctions or other approved methods.
Money raised from the assets could be given as compensation to people who suffered losses because of the crime.
A new Asset Management Authority would manage property seized by the state. The authority would operate under the Finance Ministry.
The bill also includes rules for working with other countries to trace and recover crime-related assets held overseas.
