Azmiralda asks police for criminal probe into ACC president Shamil

Supreme Court Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir has lodged a formal compliant with the police, seeking a criminal investigation into Adam Shamil, the president of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Azmiralda’s legal representative Ibrahim Shameel told Sun that Shamil is believed to have sent a letter to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) falsely claiming to have opened an investigation into her before the ACC had launched one.

Shameel said they lodged a complaint with the police on Sunday seeking an investigation into Shamil over the false claim as well as the allegation that he attempted to influence Azmiralda.

Azmiralda, along with Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir and then-Justice Husnu Al-Suood were suspended by the JSC on February 26 citing an ongoing criminal investigation against them by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). While the ACC has refused to disclose any information regarding the investigation, including to the justices themselves, the JSC later opened an inquiry into both Azmiralda and Mahaz regarding an allegation that they influenced the Criminal Court to secure the release of the former’s husband, Dr. Ismail Latheef, who was arrested in a raid on a massage parlor in December last year.

The allegation is denied by both Azmiralda and Mahaz.

In addition to lodging the police complaints against Shamil, Azmiralda’s legal representative told Sun that they also provided a written response to the JSC’s inquiry report on Sunday.

The key points raised in their response include:

• The inquiry was launched in violation of standard procedure.
• The inquiry was conducted in violation of the constitution.
• JSC obstructed the Azmiralda’s right to defend herself.
• JSC failed to provide legal grounds for the decision to deny the request for public hearings in the inquiry.
• Committee’s inquiry report contradicts with findings of the inquiry.

Shamil said they have submitted 17 documental evidence and 11 witnesses to refute the allegations against Azmiralda.

Their suspension came less than one hour ahead of a hearing scheduled at the Supreme Court regarding a request for an injunction to suspend the enforcement of controversial anti-defection clauses that were written into the Constitution last year. It also came shortly after the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) used its supermajority in the Parliament to push through amendments to the Judicature Act to downsize the Supreme Court bench from seven to five justices.

Suood resigned from the Supreme Court on March 4 after raising serious allegations of government intimidation.

Meanwhile, the contentious judicature bill remained unsigned for close to two weeks, and was sent back to the Parliament for reconsideration on March 11. It is currently under review by the Judiciary Committee.