A petition has been submitted to the High Court of the Maldives seeking a legal declaration that the “Scoop” group, operating in Hithadhoo, Addu City, is an organized criminal gang. The Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office stated that the Maldives Police Service requested this filing under the Prevention of Gang Crimes and Serious Crimes Act. Following a thorough review of the evidence submitted by the police, the PG Office concluded that the “Scoop” group meets the statutory criteria of an organized criminal group and remains actively involved in criminal activities.
Accordingly, the PG Office has moved the High Court to officially designate “Scoop,” “Scoop Kanmathi,” or “SKP” as an organized criminal group or gang under Section 63 of the aforementioned Act. The petition also seeks to identify nine specific individuals as members of this gang. Furthermore, the PG Office has requested the court to order the Commissioner of Sports to dissolve the “SKP Sports Club,” which is believed to be affiliated with the group. Additionally, an order is sought for the Addu City Council to remove all graffiti and branding related to “Scoop,” “Scoop Kanmathi,” and “SKP” from public walls and other locations.
This marks the second such request submitted by the Maldives Police Service to the PG Office since the enactment of the Prevention of Gang Crimes and Serious Crimes Act. The PG Office noted that a previous submission did not proceed to court as the investigation had not sufficiently established the legal requirements for a gang designation. Consequently, this is the first formal petition of its kind to be filed in court. The PG Office further stated that once a judicial determination is made, they will collaborate with the police to take all necessary subsequent actions against the group and its members.
Under the Act, an “organized criminal group” is defined as a structured group of three or more persons acting in concert to commit one or more serious crimes, or other criminal offenses, to obtain direct or indirect financial or material benefit. The Act specifically targets groups that remain “active” following the commencement of the law.
The Maldives Police Service and relevant state authorities are continuously working to curb the activities of organized crime groups within the country. The PG Office reaffirmed that legal proceedings and enforcement actions will continue against any criminal group that meets the legal criteria defined in the Act.
