A motion has been submitted in parliament against Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) Parliamentary Group member and representative of Guraidhoo constituency in Parliament, Ibrahim Riza, to remove him from his post as Vice President of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

MP Riza was appointed to the post of Vice President at JSC in early August, after then VP Mohamed Faisal was appointed to the High Court.

The motion of no confidence against Riza was submitted following Riza’s recklessness in carrying out the responsibilities mandated to him, for not cooperating with the Parliament in applying the rule of law, and for proving himself to be unreliable.

The motion was submitted by main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s MP for Vaikaradhoo constituency, Mohamed Nazim,

While Riza is a close ally of outgoing President Abdulla Yameen, many allegations have been raised against him for influencing the Supreme Court justices.

JSC currently has 10 members, Speaker Abdulla Maseeh, Attorney General Mohamed Anil, Supreme Court Justice Abdulla Areef, President of the Civil Service Commission Dr. Ali Shameem, Juvenile Court judge Mohamed Easa, High Court judge Abdul Rauf Ibrahim, attorneys Abdul Hannan Ahmed and Latheef Qasim, and lastly Mohamed Saleem.

The commission is tasked with appointing judges, investigating complaints against them, formulating regulations on judges, advising the President and Parliament on matters relating to the administration of justice as well as other matters of court.