Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) has denied claims that Supreme Court justices were bribed to back the lower court’s order for the state to pay MVR 348 million to Dheebaajaa Investments.

In a press release on Wednesday, DJA stated that online news site CNM’s report was ‘completely false’ and was intended to defame the courthouse and obstruct justice.

DJA stated that reports against CNM have been sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office and the media council, adding that allegations of corruption should be addressed at the relevant institutions and that spreading and promoting lies about judges is a crime.

In the press release, DJA also claimed that these accusations against justices serve the purpose of stopping the Supreme Court’s effort to reform the judiciary.

In 2010, Dheebaajaa signed an agreement with President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration to develop transport services in the northern province, but former President Mohamed Waheed terminated the agreement in 2013.

While the Civil Court ruled in Dheebaajaa’s favor in 2014, the state claimed that the company had violated their agreement and appealed in 2015, resulting in High Court overturning the lower court’s verdict.

The Supreme Court concluded its appeal hearings within seven months and backed the Civil Court’s order for the state to pay MVR 348 million in compensation on March 17.