Police deny any investigation into Supreme Court justices

The police on Monday denied allegations that it is investigating three Supreme Court justices in a plot to replace sitting justices with government affiliated officials.

In a statement on Saturday, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) accused the government of plotting to dismiss three Supreme Court justices and replace them with Prosecutor General Abbas Shareef and two other political appointees.

This sparked rumors that the police had launched an investigation into Supreme Court justices.

However, the chief police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan denied the claims of a police investigation on Monday.

“We are not investigating any cases involving SC judges,” he told Sun.

While Shifan denied any police investigation, the Judicial Service Commission has refused to confirm or deny that it is investigating Supreme Court justices.

The commission said that it has changed its media policy, and no longer shared information regarding investigations into individual judges.

 The Supreme Court is composed of a seven-member bench.

• Ahmed Muthasim Adnan, Chief Justice
• Dr. Azmiralda Zahir
• Aisha Shujoon Mohamed
• Mahaz Ali Zahir
• Husnu Al Suood
• Ali Rasheed Hussain
• Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim

In its weekend statement, the MDP said that the alleged planned changes to the Supreme Court’s bench were motivated by the desire to influence the case lodged by former Kendhoo MP Ali Hussain challenging the move to include anti-defection clauses in the Constitution.

However, the allegations have been denied by Ibrahim Falah, the leader of ruling People’s National Congress (PNC)’s parliamentary group.