Judge Azmiralda challenges JSC decision, letter to president

The suspended Supreme Court Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir has written a letter to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu claiming the Judicial Service Commission’s (JSC) decision regarding her case.

The JSC committee, that was formed to probe Azmiralda’s case had sent a notice to the apex court judge on February 26^th that said she was alleged with attempting to coerce Criminal Court judges regarding her husband, Dr. Ismail Latheef’s criminal case. The commission added it was looking into the matter following a complaint.

The allegations made against Azmiralda before the JSC probe had altered after the investigation concluded, which is confirmed from the statement of her legal counsel Ibrahim Shameel.

According to Shameel, the committee had wrapped up its decision while disregarding the truth. He also highlighted the presence of two president-appointed members on the committee, implying potential bias in the investigation.

The Supreme Court Justice has written a letter addressed to President Muizzu regarding the JSC decision.

The committee in its report recommended termination of the Azmiralda along with Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir. The committee unanimously agreed to submit their dismissal to the parliament.

“The decision has been made on baseless perceptions without any evidence or testimony to back it,” Shameel in his statement said.

The statement further stressed that although the committee’s report claimed Azmiralda’s husband was nude at the he was arrested, the evidences presented from the Supreme Court Justice proved to the contrary.

Shameel stressed Azmiralda did not coerce any Criminal Court judges from the time of her husband’s apprehension until his release. Evidences also sufficiently prove Azmiralda and Mahaz spoke only after Latheef’s release, around dusk on the same day.

Azmiralda, Mahaz and Justice Husnu al-Suood were suspended on February 26^th citing disciplinary cases against them, while the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is looking into criminal allegations of the three.

JSC began its investigations on all three judges while they had been presiding over a Supreme Court case concerning a contentious constitutional amendment that added anti-defection clauses.

Suood, who resigned from his position on March 4^th had raised concerns about the transparency of the JSC investigation.