Parliamentarians call for Didi’s impeachment ‘to teach judges a lesson’

Ruling MDP parliamentarians have called Supreme Court Justice Abdulla Didi as the first step of judicial reform in Maldives.

Judicial Service Commission (JSC) ruled Didi to be guilty of multiple violations of the code of ethics for judges, and submitted its findings, along with its recommendation to impeach the Justice, on Tuesday.

Judiciary Committee of Parliament voted in favor of the recommendation later on Tuesday evening.

Speaking at the debate on the committee’s decision this Wednesday, Thulhaadhoo MP Hisaan Hussain said that the people of Maldives had held on to the notion of judicial impunity for far too long. She said that judges themselves acted as if they weren’t accountable for their actions.

‘Today is the day a vital step is taken in the road to judicial reform in Maldives,” said Hisaan.

Hisaan, who serves as the Parliament’s representative at JSC, said that the fact that the institution charged with investigating allegations against judges conducts such investigations and takes action against judges will held reform the judiciary and restore the public’s faith in the judiciary.

Velidhoo MP Mohamed Abdulla Shafeeq said that this Wednesday is the day the Maldivian public began receiving respite for their complaints against judges.

“Today, the day the fate of a corrupt judge is decided by this parliamentary floor, will go down in Maldivian history,” said Shafeeq.

He expressed confidence Didi will be impeached by a decisive vote.

Kendhoo MP Ali Hussain said that he, during review of JSC’s investigative report on Didi, found multiple embarrassing text messages he exchanged, referring to text messages sent from Didi’s phone to an unidentified Suspect 1.

“I am personally embarrassed as a lawyer, by the messages sent by a judge to a government official at the time. By the level to which the conduct of judges has fallen,” said Ali Hussain.

He said he fully supported impeaching Didi.

He said that this Wednesday would be the day the purpose the people voted for President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the current parliamentary assembly is realized.

Hinnavaru MP Jeehan Mahmood said there was no reason to delay Didi’s impeachment.

“In my opinion, this justice must be criminally charged. This justice must be imprisoned,” said Jeehan.

All parliamentarians who took part in the debate ahead of the impeachment motion spoke in support of the move.