Opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has come out in Justice Abdulla Didi’s defence.
Judicial Service Commission (JSC) had suspended the Supreme Court justice last Wednesday, over a bribery case filed against him, both at the Commission and the Maldives Police Service (MPS).
The day after the JSC vote, Didi filed a case at the Supreme Court, seeking to nullify this decision. The court issued a stay order in the case the same day, directed to all relevant institutions.
JSC held an emergency meeting on Thursday night, and decided to go ahead with its initial decision, saying that the court order obstructed the Commission’s work- as per stated in the Constitution.
The case against Justice Didi was filed by current parliament speaker and former president, Mohamed Nasheed. He claims that Didi had been given USD one million to sentence him to prison in 2015.
A statement released by PPM on Saturday accused both Nasheed and the Judicial Service Commission of working to destroy the country’s “constitutional procedures.”
Citing Articles 43 and 141 of the Constitution, PPM said that the courts are responsible for ensuring justice.
Further noting that the Supreme Court is the highest authority in such matters, the party said that its decision in Didi’s case “is final.”
It added that all relevant institutions must abide by this order.
PPM’s statement also criticized main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party, who has super majority in parliament with 65 MPs.
The party called on MDP to use its majority in parliament ‘to work within the constitution and in good faith, instead of targeting individuals.’
It added that the case submitted against Didi “is personal.”
“President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s silence in the case is unacceptable”Progressive Party of Maldives
While PPM cites Articles 43 and 141 of the Constitution, 157 (b) states that “the jurisdiction of the Judicial Service Commission shall extend to all members of the Judiciary and such other persons as designated by the People’s Majlis.”
Its responsibilities, as per Article 159, include (b) “investigating complaints about the Judiciary, and to take disciplinary action against them, including recommendations for dismissal.”
It is also important to note that the former ruling party’s belief that the Supreme Court holds the highest authority is relatively new, given the fact that former President Abdulla Yameen had refused to follow an order it issued in February 2018. Instead, the PPM administration had declared a nation-wide state of emergency.
