Sunday, April 12, 2009

Presumed Innocent


The old couple who brought one kilogram of heroin from India to the Maldives on 9th April may be innocent –an assumption most people are apparently making because of the advanced age of the couple. But are they really innocent? Whatever the truth, one thing is certain. This is a loophole in the system and criminals are certain to take advantage of it.

With one notable exception, Maldivians generally assume old people don't do crime. The exception is of course former President Gayoom. Supposing the contraband was found on his luggage when he returned from his recent trip to Trivandrum, he is unlikely to have received much sympathy. Why this difference?

Again this may be due to the assumption that uneducated people are innocent. Like the previous assumption this also has no scientific basis at all. In fact in most studies low educational achievement is associated with higher crime rates, not lower.

For details of the case in Dhivehi click here.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

it's very common these days for drug smugglers to use innocent looking people. in many cases the 'innocent' person knows he is doing something illegal. but he is not told all the dangers. so in a way he is really innocent.

moyameehaa said...

in the movie 'blindness' the most cruel of all blind people are the one person who was blind at birth. the old man has been blind for his whole life, yet he is the master mind behind all the evils done there.

when the protagonists thinks he, of all people, should understand and be more kind and gentle... another bad guy there says that he is just blind. that does not make him good or bad... same goes for old people and people with disabilities (except mental?).apparantly some blind people's rights group protested against this...how stupid people can be.

Anonymous said...

You would be surprised at how many people would still consider Gayyoom innocent - and that it had been a planted by the government.. But seriously..Why does every article that you now write lead to Gayyoom ..Becoming a bit childish ..

vaaf said...

@Anon
I am baffled as to know how the any one who knows what he is committing is illegal can be innocent even if he/she looks innocent looking and not knowing the full consequences....

how how

Anonymous said...

The fact a "controlled delivery" was effective in nabbing the local agents shows that there was some complicated delivery instructions. It could not have been a simple case of "go and give this to Fullaamaage." it is also reported the couple travelled often. this is anything but innocent.

Anonymous said...

These days no malodivian is there young or old who does not know about drugs. nobody can be that innocent.

Anonymous said...

we just cant go on killing/prosecuting anybody who posesses drugs...
each case needs to be investigated and im really dissapointed you decided to put blame on someone before the investigations are over...
im seeing very superficial posts from you these days...
you really fail to make a good point these days...