The National Integrity Commission has resolved a substantial backlog of long-standing cases and aims to conclude all remaining pending matters within an expedited timeframe, the independent oversight body announced.
Tasked with ensuring the fundamental integrity of law enforcement agencies and personnel, encompassing the Maldives Police Service, Maldives Customs Service, Maldives Immigration and Maldives Correctional Service, the commission holds statutory authority to investigate procedural violations and human rights abuses.
Historically, extensive delays in addressing complaints hindered optimal outcomes, Fathimath Shareef, the vice president of the commission, acknowledged on the PSM News program 'Raajje Miadhu'. While unresolved matters remain, efforts are underway to finalise these investigations, Fathimath noted, adding that rapid employee turnover and Covid-19 operational shifts drove the stagnation.
"The extended duration of these pending cases makes it exceptionally difficult to achieve optimal outcomes," Fathimath remarked. "At the beginning of this month, we successfully concluded the backlogged cases spanning from 2018 through 2022," she said, adding that 2023 and 2024 cases will be resolved this year. "Our ultimate goal, once the current backlog is cleared, is to ensure no case remains pending for a period exceeding six months."
The pandemic-induced backlog expanded considerably, Nafha Hussain, the commission’s secretary general, explained. "The emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic is among the primary factors that contributed to the accumulation of these backlogged cases," Nafha said. "A profound shift occurred in our previous working methodologies, which stands as just one of the reasons for the existence of such a massive backlog."
In a marked departure from these historical challenges, the commission is now receiving comprehensive cooperation from the police, customs, corrections, and immigration departments, officials noted.