Parliament impeaches Justice Abdulla Didi

Supreme Court Justice Abdulla Didi has been impeached in a historic move by the Maldivian Parliament.

Judicial Service Commission filed its recommendation to impeach Didi with the Parliament on Tuesday, and the Judiciary Committee of Parliament voted in favor of JSC’s recommendation later on Tuesday evening.

 Didi was impeached with the majority vote of 72 parliamentarians this Wednesday afternoon. One parliamentarian abstained.

JSC launched its investigation into Didi after receiving a letter from Maldives Police Service regarding an open criminal investigation on Didi.

According to JSC’s report, Didi is under investigation by the police for bribery, specifically for using the power his position in exchange for monetary benefits from the suspects who embezzled funds from Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).

JSC found him guilty of nine violations of the code of ethics for judges.

REASONS CITED FOR DIDI’S IMPEACHMENT:

• Gaining illegitimate benefits in connection to trials
• Lack of honesty, sincerity, and integrity required of judges
• Lack of compliance with code of behavior expected of judges
• Succumbing to influence
• Allowing influence over official duty of judges

Didi began his career as a judge in 1999 at the former Criminal Court. He was transferred to the High Court in 2015, and rose up the ranks to become the Chief Judge of High Court.

He was appointed a Justice at the Supreme Court in 2018.

Didi had been embattled with allegations of political corruption even prior to JSC’s investigation, including allegations he took part in former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s political campaigns, and swayed rulings in favor of the wishes of former government officials.