ACC registers Azmiralda’s case against Shamil

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has registered the case submitted by Supreme Court Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir against the commission’s president, Adam Shamil.

Following information of an ongoing criminal investigation against the top court judge, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) suspended Azmiralda on February 26^th.

In a letter addressed to ACC sent on Monday last week, Azmiralda said ACC had sent letter to JSC informing of the criminal investigation before official probe began, which she claimed was done to defend Shamil’s position as he had a personal stake in the case.

Azmiralda’s legal representative, Ibrahim Shameel confirmed to ‘Sun’ that her case against Shamil had been registered with ACC.

She has raised concerns since ACC has been keeping its investigation of her under wraps, and alleged the information Shamil included about her in the letter sent to JSC were false with the aim of coercing the judges’ from performing their duties.

A recent legal amendment grants authority of appointing the president of ACC to the President of Maldives, which Azmiralda claimed was motive for Shamil to defend his position. Additional to this, Azmiralda also pointed out, alleging Attorney General, Ahmed Usham wished to impede the ongoing judicial review by the Supreme Court in a now contentious constitutional amendment.

JSC has been looking into a case related to the top court judge, which is related to the arrest of her husband last December. Her husband, Dr. Ismail Latheef was arrested from a local spa. Azmiralda is alleged to have influenced her husband’s case at the Criminal Court, coercing the lower court for his acquittal.

While Azmiralda has denied these allegations, she was summoned to JSC to provide statements in the case as well.

Besides Azmiralda, Supreme Court Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir is facing the same charge as well, though he too, has denied the allegations.

Apart from the two judges, veteran lawyer and most recently a Supreme Court Justice, Husnu al-Suood was suspended on February 26^th, but shortly after he had resigned from the position citing the government was attempting to impede the top court.

Right after the suspension of the three judges, the Maldives parliament passed a bill that sought to reduce the Supreme Court judges’ bench from seven to five.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu refused to ratify the amendment and sent the bill back to parliament for reviewal.

Amid criticisms on the bill from political opposition and the legal fraternity, the parliament on Monday approved sending it back to the committee for further amendments. The bill had attracted criticism from some of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) members as well.

Both Azmiralda and Suood alleged the measures by the government were all motivated at derailing the constitutional case lodged at the Supreme Court. The case relates to the amendment that added anti-defection clauses to the Maldives Constitution.

Meanwhile, Suood has brought the matter to the attention of international community including the United Nations, Commonwealth and other global financial institutions.