The Criminal Court expects its work this year to move forward at an unprecedented pace, the court said on Monday as it released its 2025 statistics.
In the report, Criminal Court Chief Justice Adam Mohamed said last year marked a major relief from the severe space constraints the court had faced for years.
On July 27 last year, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu inaugurated the new Justice Building Annex, which now houses both the Criminal Court and the Drug Court. The Judicial Service Commission had ordered the previous building to be closed in 2023 after significant structural damage, forcing the court to operate under difficult conditions and causing delays.
According to the Chief Justice, the disruption resulted in a sharp decline in productivity, with the number of cases completed in 2023 falling 55 percent compared to 2022.
He said those challenges were resolved once the court moved into the new building, and the impact is clearly reflected in the 2025 figures.
New Criminal Court building: The Court has ordered the Police to submit evidence in cases where obstruction of duty is claimed. (Photo/President's Office)
A total of 1,062 cases were filed with the court last year, while 1,380 cases were decided, a 113 percent increase compared to the 649 cases decided in 2024. The court’s case‑clearance rate now stands at 130 percent.
Before relocating, the Criminal Court averaged 72 cases per month. After the move, the number of cases decided per month increased by 140 percent, the court said.
Judge Ali Nadeem completed the highest number of cases last year, deciding 302 cases alone.
Given last year’s performance, the Criminal Court said it expects its work this year to progress at an unprecedented pace in its history. The court also estimates that its backlog of pending cases will be cleared within the year.
The new building includes 15 courtrooms, 17 judges’ rooms, dedicated spaces for prosecutors and defense lawyers, and facilities designed to support efficient trial proceedings.