Insufficient evidence to charge ex-SC judges Azmiralda and Mahaz, says PG Office

The Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) has declined to pursue criminal charges against former Supreme Court justices Azmiralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir over allegations of abuse of influence, citing insufficient evidence to support a prosecution.

The PG Office told Dhauru on Thursday that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had referred the case for prosecution following an investigation into allegations that the two former justices had improperly exercised influence.

However, prosecutors determined that the evidence submitted was insufficient to establish grounds for criminal charges and returned the case to the ACC on 10 September.

Azmiralda and Mahaz were removed from the Supreme Court in May 2025 following allegations of abuse of influence. The allegations against Azmiralda concerned claims that she had attempted to influence proceedings relating to the arrest of her husband, Dr Ismail Latheef, a doctor at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), at a massage parlour.

Mahaz was also removed from office over allegations relating to the same matter.

During the same period, Supreme Court justice Husnu Al Suood, who had been suspended, resigned from his position.

Parliament approved the removal of Azmiralda and Mahaz despite concerns raised by international organisations, including the United Nations, and the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) over the procedures followed in dismissing the judges.

The organisations had called for the removal proceedings to be halted.

Following her dismissal, Azmiralda issued a statement criticising the actions of the state institutions involved in her removal and raising concerns about the procedures followed.

She maintained that throughout her approximately 24 years in the judiciary, she had never used her position to influence any individual or authority for her own benefit or that of another person.

Azmiralda alleged that she had been removed through proceedings conducted in secrecy and in violation of several legal rights.

She also claimed that the outcome of the proceedings had been predetermined before the allegations against her were properly investigated.

In her statement, Azmiralda argued that, if the Maldives operated in accordance with the rule of law, the actions taken to remove her from office could provide grounds for criminal proceedings against those who planned, organised and implemented them.

She said she would await the day when those responsible were held accountable.

The PG Office's decision means that criminal charges will not be pursued against Azmiralda and Mahaz on the evidence submitted by the ACC in this case.