sentences for capital punishment have been commuted to life imprisonment. When the new Constitution came into effect in August 2008, the Constitution reformed the judiciary establishing a three tier court system where the Supreme Court has the final verdict on all matters relating to judiciary. However, the Constitution in its article 115 states that President is entrusted pursuant of the Constitution to carry out the duties to grant pardons or reductions of sentence as provided by law, to persons convicted of a criminal offence who have no further opportunity to appeal. Source: Department of Judicial Administration, Justice Sector Statistics 38. Citing the growing numbers of assaults and murder cases in the recent years and influenced by public sentiments regarding gang violence, in March 2011, Parliament accepted an Chapter: Article 6‐ Right to Life Source: Maldives Police Service 18