Drug Court Judge Raises Concerns Over Rehab System’s Effectiveness

Drug Court Judge Adam Arif has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the country’s drug rehabilitation system, highlighting that offenders are serving shorter sentences for reasons that remain unclear. 

Speaking at Parliament’s Judiciary Committee yesterday, Judge Arif pointed out that many offenders who have been treated within the system over the past 12 years have repeatedly re-entered it multiple times.

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He attributed this recurring issue to what he sees as a failure in the rehabilitation system. “This is a huge service provided by the state to the public. I believe offenders are coming in repeatedly, even a fourth time, because certain aspects of the system have failed,” he explained.

Judge Arif noted that offenders often re-enter the system because they are not receiving proper treatment initially. “They come in for a third time when treatment failed the second time. One of the main reasons behind a fourth occurrence is the discontinuation of their treatment and a reduction in the time they serve their sentences, which could indicate a shift towards a more lenient approach,” he said.

The judge emphasised that the reduction in the duration of sentences opens the door for offenders to relapse and re-offend. “When they get the chance, they abuse drugs again and return to Drug Court,” he added.

The latest figures from the Maldives Police Service reveal that over the past seven years, approximately 4,500 individuals have been sentenced to drug rehabilitation. Drug-related issues remain a significant social challenge in the country, with 1,674 drug-related cases reported last year alone.