The Criminal Court has cancelled its closed-door hearing of Husnu Suood, the head of the presidential commission on unresolved deaths and disappearances.

In an earlier press release, the court stated that it will hold a preliminary hearing on Tuesday to investigate the lawyer after he alleged that local gangs have influence over judges and the courthouse.

The court stated that Suood has undermined the legitimacy of the courts and that a five-judge bench will be looking into his case.

On Tuesday, Suood told RaajjeMV that the court placed him in the waiting room and then cancelled the hearing without giving a reason.

At a press conference last December, Suood made several claims, including that local gangs have enough influence to pick judges for specific court cases.

Suood said that gangs have influence over the judges, and that some were even ‘nominated’ by the gangs. He also said that judges have deliberately halted death cases and that court officials have a hand in the gang’s involvement in the justice system.