Complaints filed with UN, World Bank over suspension of justices

Complaints have been filled with the United Nations (UN), Commonwealth and international financial agencies over the suspension of Supreme Court justices.

Judicial Service Commission (JSC) suspended three Supreme Court justices on February 26^th – Husnu Al-Suood, Dr. Azmiralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir – citing criminal investigations against them by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Subsequently, Suood resigned as JSC investigated disciplinary cases against the three justices.

The complaints were submitted to international organizations by Suood.

Speaking with Sun on Monday, Suood said complaints have been filed with UN, Commonwealth and international financial agencies including World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Suood said the complaints were submitted in order to protect Maldives’ administrative system and ensure the independence of judges.

“If this is not guaranteed, a state cannot function in today’s world. International relations cannot be upheld,”

JSC is presently undertaking efforts to replace Suood following his resignation. The Commission is also investigating display cases against Azmiralda and Mahaz.

Notably, the justices were suspended as the court reviewed a case challenging a contentious amendment to the Constitution that added anti-defection clauses. The controversial amendment added three more circumstances where parliamentarians will lose their seat, including if they are expelled from their political party.

On the same day the justices were suspended, a ruling PNC-dominated Parliament passed a contentious amendment to the Judicature Act to downsize the Supreme Court bench from seven to five justices. However, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has sent the bill back to Parliament for reconsideration. The Parliament, on Monday, sent the bill to Judiciary Committee for amendments despite calls from the opposition as well as from within PNC itself to reject the bill.

The complaints over the suspension of the justices have been filed with international organizations amid concerns over non-receipt of loans and grant assistance projected to be received by the Maldives from foreign parties.

In this regard, it was recently revealed that 96 percent of the loans and grant assistance projected to be received in the state budget for this year has not been received. Moreover, state revenue had also declined during this period.

Maldives’ alarming financial state has prompted two of the biggest international credit ranking agencies to downgrade its ranking.