Suood plans criminal complaint over suspension of Supreme Court judges

Former Supreme Court Justice Husnu Al Suood has said he plans to pursue a criminal investigation into the suspension of three Supreme Court judges in February 2025, alleging that the action amounted to an abuse of official authority intended to influence a constitutional case.

Suood, speaking on Dhauru’s “Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa” podcast, said the matter had not ended and that complaints would be submitted to relevant authorities, including the police.

Suood, Dr Azmiralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir were suspended by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on 26 February 2025 after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) informed the commission that the three judges were subjects of a criminal investigation. The suspensions came shortly before the Supreme Court was due to hear an application for an interim order concerning constitutional amendments on the loss of parliamentary seats.

The hearing, scheduled for 11am that day, concerned a request to suspend enforcement of constitutional provisions under which MPs could lose their seats in circumstances including expulsion from their political party. The hearing did not proceed following the suspension of the judges.

According to Suood, notice of the Supreme Court hearing had been sent at around 9pm on 25 February. He said an unidentified individual submitted a case concerning the three judges to the ACC at around 1am the following morning.

Suood said ACC President Adam Shamil sent a letter to the JSC shortly before 10am on 26 February, after which JSC members were notified of an emergency meeting scheduled for 10:30am. The commission then suspended the three judges before the Supreme Court hearing began.

The JSC said at the time that the suspensions followed notification from the ACC that the three judges were under criminal investigation.

Suood subsequently resigned from the Supreme Court on 4 March 2025. Azmiralda and Mahaz were later dismissed after the JSC recommended their removal to Parliament.

Suood alleged that the sequence of events amounted to interference with the judiciary and said those involved could be investigated for abuse of official authority.

“Article 510 of the Penal Code deals with a state official improperly using their position and exerting influence,” Suood said. “We were removed by doing that, to achieve a particular purpose.”

Suood said he and the other two former judges intended to pursue the matter and seek investigations into those they allege were involved.

“The matter is not over yet,” Suood said. “We have decided [including the other two judges who were suspended] to begin the next phase. By then, things will be clear.”

Suood said he would seek investigations into senior officials he alleges were involved, including President Mohamed Muizzu, Attorney General Ahmed Usham, then-JSC President and Maafushi MP Hussain Riza Adam, and ACC President Adam Shamil.

The allegations are Suood’s claims, and the article provided does not include responses from the officials he named.

Suood said his intention was not driven by a personal dispute, but by what he described as damage to the judiciary, Parliament and the constitutional system.

“This is not because something happened to us personally,” Suood said. “The judiciary, Parliament and state institutions were undermined. The Constitution itself was diminished. That is why we do not intend to let this go.”

He alleged that the actions were taken to protect the interests of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) and had weakened the judiciary, Parliament and the broader democratic system.

The suspension of the judges and subsequent proceedings drew concerns from civil society groups and international legal organisations over judicial independence and due process. Transparency Maldives and other civil society organisations later raised concerns over the process surrounding the JSC’s recommendation to dismiss Azmiralda and Mahaz, while the Commonwealth Lawyers Association also expressed concern over the proceedings.