Probe against ex-AG Suood is a threat to those working to reform judiciary: MDP

Main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has expressed concern over the Supreme Court’s decision to probe former attorney general Husnu Suood, for statements made regarding the state of the country’s judiciary.

Suood, also the chief of the presidential inquiry commission into murders and enforced disappearances, was questioned by the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) on Wednesday.

The probe was launched following comments made to RaajjeTV, where Suood highlighted the lack of trust in courts and called for the dismissals. He also criticized the Supreme Court’s decision to penalize members of the Elections Commissions ahead of the 2013 presidential election, as well as its actions following the controversial order calling to release political prisoners in February 2018.

In a statement released on Wednesday, MDP said that the opinions Suood had expressed on the RaajjeTV programme “are shared by a number of Maldivian people and the international community.”

Noting that investigating those that have not committed any crimes “is a threat to those working to reform the judiciary,” the party highlighted Suood and a number of other lawyers have been investigated by the Supreme Court “for expressing their opinions” regarding the judiciary.

MDP highlighted that Suood called for judges' dismissals "after thorough and transparent investigations."

MDP further said that both the local and the international community have been expressing concern over the country’s judiciary, including the United Nations.