The Supreme Court of Maldives has said that it is up to the High Court, to make a decision on the validity of the changes to its bench, made after commencing Dhiggaru constituency MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon's appeal trial.
The Court reached a decision in the case on the 10th of this month.
The parliamentarian was detained on attempted bribery charges on July 18, and was ordered to be kept in remand for the duration of the investigation and trial.
While the appeal case was first reviewed by Judges Abdulla Didi, Ali Sameer and Abdul Rauf Ibrahim, Sameer was replaced mid-trial by Judge Shujau Usman. He was then appointed as the presiding judge in the case.
The case was filed at the Supreme Court as it fell under its jurisdiction, highlighting that the change to the bench "contradicted a precedent set by Supreme Court".
At a hearing held at the High Court on September 28, the bench decided to hold the appeal hearings until the Supreme Court reaches a decision.
