Ex President of the Judges Association resigns over allegations of bribery, Justice Suood appointed to the vacant spot

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The association’s standing committee has decided to appoint Supreme Court Justice Husnu Al Suood as the President of the Judges Association of Maldives.

The position was left vacant after Judge Abdul Rauf, who was filling the position resigned from the High Court.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) sought the removal of High Court judges Abdulla Hameed, Abdul Rauf Ibrahim, and Ahmed Sameer through the Parliament last April. The JSC looked into the judges for allegedly buying a flat at concessional prices against regulations. The judges bought the flats during the government of former President Abdulla Yameen.

JSC has said that their investigation into the case proved that the flats were given to the High Court Judges illegally. The commission further gave statements that these flats were given as a form of bribe or allowance by the then government for their own purpose in influencing the institution.

Several judges who had dismissal motions launched against them by JSC have resigned.

An amendment has also been proposed to the Legal Profession Act to terminate the legal licenses of judges who have been removed. If the amendment is passed, judges who resign or are removed will have their licenses revoked based on the severity of the offence.

The Judicial Administration has previously said that the association was created under the rights granted to judges by the Judges Act.