The Criminal Court of Maldives has recorded a dramatic improvement in case resolution since relocating to the Justice Building Annex, with monthly case completions rising by 140 percent, according to newly released court statistics.
Data from the court show that 1,062 cases were filed during 2025, while rulings were delivered in 1,380 cases over the same period. This places the court’s overall case completion rate at approximately 130 percent for the year, indicating that judges were able to clear a significant number of pending cases alongside new filings.
Before the relocation, the Criminal Court was concluding an average of 72 cases per month in 2025. Following the move to the Justice Building Annex, that figure rose sharply to an average of 175 cases per month, reflecting a substantial increase in judicial efficiency.
Among the judges, Ali Nadeem recorded the highest number of decisions during the year, delivering rulings in 302 cases.
Year-on-year figures also point to a notable improvement. In 2024, the Criminal Court concluded 649 cases. By comparison, the 1,380 cases decided in 2025 represent a 113 percent increase in the number of cases resolved.
The court also reported progress in reducing the number of individuals held in pre-trial detention. At the start of 2025, 272 people were in custody awaiting the conclusion of their cases. By the end of the year, that figure had been reduced to 128.
Court officials have previously linked delays in proceedings to the poor condition and limited capacity of the old courthouse. Following the assumption of office by Mohamed Muizzu, a new facility was prepared for the Criminal Court at the Justice Building Annex in Hulhumalé, with the relocation completed on 27 July 2025.
Both the Criminal Court and the Drug Court of Maldives were moved to the new premises in July. The annex houses 10 courtrooms serving 11 sections of the Criminal Court, in addition to five dedicated courtrooms for the Drug Court, providing significantly expanded capacity for judicial proceedings.
The improved infrastructure is now being credited as a key factor in accelerating case disposal and easing long-standing backlogs within the criminal justice system.
