ACC questions Criminal Court judges in judicial influence case
Supreme Court judges Azmiralda and Mahaz Ali Zahir are under investigation in the matter.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has begun recording statements from Criminal Court judges regarding allegations of judicial influence in a case involving Supreme Court Justice Azmiralda Zahir and her husband, IGMH doctor Ismail Latheef.
Supreme Court judges Azmiralda and Mahaz Ali Zahir are under investigation in the matter. The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has initiated a disciplinary inquiry into two judges, while the ACC is conducting a corruption investigation related to the alleged exercise of influence.
Although the ACC has not disclosed details of the investigation, sources indicate that several Criminal Court judges have been summoned to provide statements. These judges signed their statements at the ACC late last night.
The judges questioned include:
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Sofwath Habeeb
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Ibrahim Zihunee
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Adam Mohamed (Chief Justice)
Additional judges are expected to be questioned.
The ACC has not yet issued an official statement on the matter, only confirming that an investigation involving Azmiralda and Mahaz is ongoing.
Azmiralda and Mahaz were suspended following the ACC’s notification to the JSC regarding the investigation. Former judge Hosni Mubarak was also suspended on 26th of last month.
In addition to this case, the JSC is investigating a separate matter involving Azmiralda and Mahaz, related to their presence at a location where High Court Assistant Registrar Hussain Mohamed Haneef was summoned to the Supreme Court.
A full bench of seven judges was presiding over a constitutional case in the Supreme Court concerning amendments that would allow MPs to be expelled from their parties and lose their seats. Proceedings in the case have stalled following the suspension of three judges. The suspensions took effect as a hearing was scheduled to begin on an order regarding the postponement of the seat loss provision’s implementation.
Under the Courts Act, constitutional cases require a bench of at least five judges. With the suspensions, only four judges currently remain in the Supreme Court.
One of the suspended judges, Husnu Suood, resigned last week.
