The Prosecutor General's Office (PG) has said that it has started the process of requesting the court to commute the sentence of those convicted of criminal offences to prison if they fail to pay the fine.

PG Office said Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) will inform the PG Office about those who have not paid the fine within the stipulated period of the court's ruling.

"In view of the information provided to this office by MIRA regarding non-payment of fine in accordance with this rule, this office will request the lower court to commute the punishment of those who fail to pay the fine to complete a prison sentence," PG Office said in a statement.

According to PG Office, the court imposes a fine on a person instead of a prison sentence only after ensuring that the person can pay the fine. As such, there should not be any excuse to pay the fine imposed by the court.

According to the PG Office, the prison sentence is commuted to a fine in cases to allow appeals but that this is being misused by offenders. The result of non-payment of the fine in lieu of the prison sentence prescribed under the earlier circumstances is that the person is not punished for the offence committed by the accused.