High Court upholds decision to change judges in Faris case

High Court has ruled in support of the change in bench of judges overseeing appeal of Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon’s detention.

High Court made its decision during the hearing held this Tuesday.

The original bench of judges overseeing the appeal had been Chief Judge Abdulla Didi, Judge Ali Sameer and Judge Abdul Rauf Ismail.

The bench of judges now comprises of Chief Judge Abdulla Didi, Judge Abdul Rauf Ismail, and Judge Shujau Usman – who replaced Judge Ali Sameer.

Faris’ attorney, Maumoon Hameed had filed a motion with Supreme Court over the change. And the Supreme Court had ruled that the issue would be heard by High Court.

Details of Tuesday’s hearing are unclear at this point as press was barred from access.

Criminal Court had ordered that Faris be kept in jail, pending the outcome of his bribery trial. Faris is accused of bribing a fellow parliamentarian to influence an impeachment motion against Speaker of People’s Majlis, Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed.