Over 1,600 prosecuted in several criminal cases last year: PG

The Prosecutor General's Office (PG Office) has stated that charges were filed against more than 1,600 individuals in connection with several criminal cases throughout 2024.

According to the Annual Report 2024 published by the PG Office, by the end of last year, looking at the types of criminal cases filed by the head office for prosecution in courts, charges were filed against 1,680 individuals in a total of 133 different types of cases.

As such, charges of cannabis use were filed against 269 people, and the second most filed cases were for the use of diamorphine. The PG Office revealed it involves 220 people.

In addition to this, 178 people are facing charges of unlawful exercise of force over another person's property. PG Office stated that out of the cases filed in courts for prosecution in 2024, a total of 108 women are listed as defendants. The number of male defendants stands at 1,572.

Looking at the age groups of the defendants in these cases, while two minors are involved, 1,678 individuals are above 18 years of age. PG Office noted that a total of 1,851 cases were filed by the Head Office with courts during 2024, stating that charges against 1,464 individuals were submitted to Superior Courts, while cases against 387 individuals were filed with Magistrate Courts.

PG Office says that out of 1,464 cases submitted to the superior courts, 957 cases have been filed with the Criminal Court for prosecution, while 446 cases have been submitted to the Drug Court and 61 juvenile cases have been submitted to the Juvenile Court.

PG Office has also stated that out of the cases submitted to courts for prosecution, charges were filed against 113 women and 1,738 men. Looking at the age groups of the defendants, there are two minors under 18 years of age and 1,849 individuals above 18 years of age.

PG Office revealed that during this year, the Head Office has submitted cases involving 1,851 individuals to a total of 62 courts. Further, by the end of 2024, looking at the types of crimes in cases from previous years that were submitted to courts for prosecution by the head office, charges have been filed against 171 people in cases involving 45 different types of crimes.

Looking at the details of the types of cases submitted for prosecution, the highest number of charges filed were against 45 individuals for cannabis use. According to PG, the second highest number of cases filed were against 35 people for the offense of using diamorphine. The third most frequently filed charges were trafficking diazepam/trafficking in diazepam charges against eight individuals. Looking at the nature of cases filed in courts from other years, a total of five females and 166 males are included as defendants. Looking at the age groups of the defendants involved in these cases, PG Office highlighted that all of them are above 18 years of age.