Maldives has never seen such government influence over judiciary; JSC being operated like a state corporation: Musthafa
Musthafa argued that JSC is being run like a government corporation, undermining judicial independence
Lawyer Musthafa Amir speaking on RaajjeTV's 'TV Talk' programme
Lawyer Musthafa Hameed has asserted that, in the long history of the Maldives, no government has exerted as deep and far-reaching an influence over the judicial sector as the current administration.
He stated that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is now being run according to the same operational principles used in government-held corporations.
Speaking on RaajjeTV’s ‘TV Talk’ programme, Musthafa criticized recent claims by government officials that JSC operates free from government influence.
He argued that a deliberate effort is underway to distort the truth regarding the state of judicial independence.
Musthafa stressed that under the present administration, JSC is being managed in a manner indistinguishable from state-owned companies.
Citing the example of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), he recalled that when a major corruption case surfaced involving the corporation, it was publicly announced that the matter would be investigated, the then-Managing Director Fazul Rasheed was removed, and the issue was subsequently buried.
He added that whenever corruption allegations arise in such companies, the current managing director is removed and then reassigned to another position of similar standing.
Musthafa revealed that the government seeks total control of the country while simultaneously attempting to project an image of an independent judiciary.
He argued that a judiciary managed under corporate-style principles cannot be perceived by the public as independent, reiterating that never before in the Maldives’ long history has any government wielded such sweeping authority over the judicial sector.
He also noted that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had pledged to uphold judicial independence and end practices of arbitrary detention. Musthafa questioned the fate of this pledge, suggesting that the judiciary itself now appears to be under arbitrary control.
He concluded by stating that 75 percent of Maldivians do not believe justice and fairness prevail in the country, asserting that people no longer trust they will receive justice even when they are subjected to wrongdoing.
