Supreme Court issues stay order reg. Justice Didi's suspension

The Supreme Court has ordered the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) against taking any action in relation to a bribery case filed against its Justice Abdulla Didi.

JSC had, on Wednesday, voted to suspend him as they investigate a case filed against him by parliament Speaker and former President, Mohamed Nasheed.

Following the suspension, Justice Didi filed a case at the Supreme Court, seeking to nullify the judicial watchdog’s decision.

Didi claimed that the decision was “unconstitutional.”

The Supreme Court said that the order was issued under its responsibilities as the highest authority for the justice administration.

The stay order is not just directed towards the Judicial Service Commission, but rather to all relevant institutions.

So, while the same issue against Didi has been filed at the Maldives Police Service, it will have to halt any investigations in the case.

JSC’s director, Hassan Zaheen had revealed its decision to suspend the Supreme Court justice at a press conference on Wednesday. He confirmed that the suspension was over the case filed by Nasheed.

The former president had earlier this month submitted a complaint at the Commission, claiming that Supreme Court Justice Abdulla Didi accepted a bribe of USD one million to sentence him to prison. Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years, over terror charges, in March 2015.

While Judge Abdulla has denied this, RaajjeMV understands that the money was transferred to his wife’s account.