PGO Seeks High Court Order to Designate Hithadhoo’s “Scoope” Group as a Gang

The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has sent a request to the High Court today to officially classify the group known as “Scoope,” operating in Addu City, Hithadhoo, as a gang.

In a statement, the PGO said that the police submitted the request under the Prevention of Gang and Other Serious Offences Act (7/2025). The office said their findings fit the criteria that the “Scoope” group, “Scoope Kanmathi,” or “SKP” is an organised criminal group or gang under the act. The office said it submitted the request under Article 63 of the Prevention of Gang and Other Serious Offences Act. It noted that nine members of the group have been identified as involved in criminal activities or as belonging to the group.

In addition to requesting the gang designation, the PGO said it has asked the High Court to order the Commissioner of Sports to dissolve the “SKP Sports Club,” which is believed to be connected to the “Scoope” gang. The office also requested that the Addu City Council remove graffiti and writings on the city’s walls referencing “Scoope Kanmathi,” “SKP,” or “Scoope.”

ނޫސް ބަޔާން: އައްޑޫސިޓީގައި ހަރަކާތްތެރިވާ "ސްކޫޕު" ގްރޫޕަކީ ގޭންގުތަކުން ހިންގާ ކުށްތަކާއި އެނޫންވެސް ނުރައްކާތެރި ކުށްތައް ހުއްޓުވުމުގެ ޤާނޫނުގެ ދަށުން އިންތިޒާމުވެފައިވާ ކުށްކުރާ ގްރޫޕް (ގޭންގް) އެއް ކަމަށް ކަނޑައަޅުއްވައިދެއްވުމަށް އެދި ހައިކޯޓަށް ހުށަހެޅުން

އިތުރަށް… pic.twitter.com/cJ1cneCKSk— Prosecutor General’s Office (@PGO_MV) January 15, 2026

The PGO said this request marks the second time the Maldives Police Service has sought to designate a group as an organised criminal gang. The office explained that it could not classify the previous group as a gang due to insufficient evidence. It has since asked the police to resubmit the request after gathering adequate evidence. The PGO did not disclose the name of that group.

As a result, the PGO said that the request regarding the “Scoope” group represents the first time the office has submitted a request to the High Court to classify a group as an “organised criminal gang” under the Prevention of Gang and Other Serious Offences Act. The office added that, once the court reaches a decision on this request, it will work closely with the police to take further legal action against the group.