Parliament has commenced debate on the bill seeking to give police the power to freeze bank accounts without a court order to prevent scams

This bill was submitted in the proposed amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act. The bill was moved by the opposition MDP MP Mohammed Ibrahim. The bill proposes to amend Article 73 on the withholding of funds in accounts and the prohibition of transactions with such funds.

Article 73(h) of the Act now provides that if a monitoring order issued under Article 72 of the Act reveals a serious criminal offence, the law enforcement agency may apply for a court order to withhold the money in the account for a certain period.

The proposed amendment to the article provides that if a monitoring order reveals that the account holder is being defrauded of a serious criminal offense or fraud or scam and there are reasonable grounds to do so, the funds in the account and the account transferred for the offense may be withheld The law enforcement agency can seek a court order to stop the transaction.

In the event of such a request for a court order, the Police may issue an order to seize the funds in the account or to prevent the transaction of the funds in the account to protect the rights of the account holder or a third party.

The amendment states that an officer of the rank of Sub-Inspector of Police or higher shall notify the bank or agency where the account was opened and the Maldives Monetary Authority without delay.

The purpose of the amendment is to request the relevant committee of parliament to find a legal solution to stop the money circulating in bank accounts without a court order.

According to the current Criminal Procedure Act, the law allows for a court order to seize the money in the accounts of those accused of committing crimes, but there is no possibility to seize the money in the accounts of third parties has told the relevant committees of the Parliament.

Therefore, the bill provides a legal solution to the problem of depositing or withholding the money in the accounts at the time of reporting the scam.