Committee closes session on Supreme Court judges' removal review

The Parliament’s Judiciary Committee decided to hold its session behind closed doors on Sunday while reviewing the Judicial Service Commission’s (JSC) proposal to remove Supreme Court judges Mahaz Ali Zahir and Azmiralda Zahir.

The JSC has proposed the dismissal of the two judges in connection with alleged interference in a Criminal Court decision concerning the arrest and detention of Azmiralda’s husband, Dr Ismail Latheef, who was taken into custody at a massage parlour.

The closed-door session was initiated partway through the committee meeting. The proposal to move the session into secrecy was submitted by Mohamed Shahid, the Deputy Leader of the PNC Parliamentary Group and MP for Hulhudhoo.

The session was attended by Ibrahim Nazil, Leader of the Opposition MDP Parliamentary Group and MP for Hithadhoo South. Although Shahid initially called for the session to be closed, the motion did not receive immediate support.

Nazil later began discussing details of the investigative report related to the case. Faresmaathoda MP Ashraf Rasheed supported his approach. Kurendhoo MP Mohamed Shabin Habeeb, however, stated that the committee should not publicly disclose details of an allegation that has not been proven. He argued that the inclusion of findings from the police investigation into the report could be harmful to Dr Ismail Latheef.

As committee chair and Manadhoo MP Hussain Mubarak prepared to call a vote on the matter, Nazil and Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir exited the meeting in protest. Two members voiced their objections during their departure.

The committee subsequently voted to approve the motion for a closed session, with five votes in favour. The live broadcast of the session was stopped and television station cameramen were removed from the room.