ACC conducts criminal probe against 3 suspended SC judges

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is conducting a criminal investigation against three suspended Supreme Court judges, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) said Wednesday.

The judges suspended are:

In a statement, the JSC said the decision to suspend the judges indefinitely followed notification from the ACC regarding the ongoing investigation.

Under Article 25 of the JSC Act, the commission is required to decide on the suspension of a judge within 48 hours of being informed that an investigating agency has initiated a case against them.

The ACC confirmed the investigation but did not provide details regarding the case.

“If a case is submitted to the commission in accordance with its mandate, the commission will take necessary steps to investigate the case within the law and rules of the commission,” the ACC stated.

The suspensions were announced as the Supreme Court was scheduled to hear a motion challenging a constitutional amendment introduced by the ruling PNC-majority parliament.

The hearing on the amendment, which would allow the removal of a parliamentarian if expelled from their party, was set for 11 am Wednesday. The judges were suspended shortly before the session, leading to a halt in the case.

Prior to the suspensions, the ruling PNC-majority parliament passed an amendment reducing the number of Supreme Court judges from seven to five and requiring the removal of two judges.