New judges sworn In to criminal and civil courts
The appointments include three judges to the Criminal Court and two judges to the Civil Court.
Five newly appointed judges were sworn into office on Thursday following decisions by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to appoint judges to the Criminal Court and Civil Court.
The appointments include three judges to the Criminal Court and two judges to the Civil Court.
The JSC opened applications in July to fill three vacancies at the Criminal Court, while applications for three Civil Court positions were invited in late June.
A total of 42 candidates applied for the Civil Court vacancies. Although the commission initially selected three candidates, it later decided not to proceed with the appointment of Mohamed Raghib Ahmed after reviewing information related to previous disciplinary matters.
For the Criminal Court vacancies, 21 candidates applied. All three candidates selected by the JSC were sworn in on Thursday.
Criminal Court
Sulaiman Mohamed of Nooraanige, Lh. Kurendhoo, was appointed to the Criminal Court bench.
He holds a Bachelor of Sharia and Law (Honours) from the College of Islamic Studies. Sulaiman served as Chief Magistrate of the Lh. Hinnavaru Magistrate Court from September 2017 to September 2022 before being appointed Chief Magistrate of the Lh. Kurendhoo Magistrate Court. He has more than 12 years of experience in the legal and judicial sector.
Ahmed Thaufeeq of Daisymaage, HA. Dhidhdhoo, was also appointed to the Criminal Court.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Maldives College of Higher Education and a Master of Comparative Law from the International Islamic University Malaysia. Thaufeeq previously served as an Assistant State Attorney at the Attorney General’s Office and later as an Assistant Public Prosecutor and Senior Public Prosecutor at the Prosecutor General’s Office. He has worked in the legal and judicial sector for more than 18 years.
Mohamed Abdulla of Dream, Th. Veymandoo, was the third appointee to the Criminal Court.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (BA LLB Hons) from Karnataka State Law University in India. Prior to his appointment, he served as a Senior Public Prosecutor at the Prosecutor General’s Office. He has more than eight years of experience in the legal sector.
Civil Court
Mohamed Nishath of Reelmanzil, Ga. Kanduhulhudhoo, was sworn in as a Civil Court judge.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Master of Laws from the Maldives National University. Nishath served as Chief Magistrate of the Kanduhulhudhoo Magistrate Court from October 2025 until his appointment. He has more than 15 years of experience in legal and judicial positions, including service as Deputy State Attorney at the Attorney General’s Office and various roles at the Anti-Corruption Commission, including Investigation Officer, Legal Officer and Senior Legal Officer.
Aasiya Azeema of Rosevilla, R. Hulhudhuffaaru, was also appointed to the Civil Court.
She holds a Bachelor of Sharia and Law (Honours) from the Maldives National University and a Master of Laws from the University of Birmingham. Aasiya previously served at the People’s Majlis Secretariat, where she held positions including Legal Officer and Deputy Director of Legal Affairs between 2014 and 2021.
The appointments fill vacancies on the Criminal Court and Civil Court benches following the JSC’s recruitment process conducted over the past two months.
