JSC launches probe into three justices, including chief justice

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has launched a probe into allegations against three Supreme Court justices, including the chief justice.

JSC said that the decision was reached at its 43rd meeting on Wednesday.

As such, the commission is investigating two complaints against Chief Justice Ahmed Abdulla Didi and Justices Mohamed Abdulla and Abdulla Areef.

A seven-member investigation committee was formed at the meeting.

They are; JSC Vice President Masthooru Hussain and members Abdul Rauf Ibrahim, Mohamed Easafulhu, Hisaan Hussain, Abdul Hannan Ahmed, Dr. Ali Shameem and Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath.

With the addition of these three justices, a total of four -out of five- justices are currently under investigation.

It is also investigating Justice Abdulla Didi, who is alleged to have taken a USD one million bribe in 2015 to sentence former President Mohamed Nasheed to 13 years in jail. He has also been accused of using his position as a top court judge to gain undue influence over others.

According to a letter read out at the investigation team’s meeting with Didi and attorneys, police have obtained two phones from one of the suspects in Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) embezzlement case, and have extracted information from these phones through a forensic analysis.

This suspect is to have had testified to having given bribes to various judges, including Didi, to alter the rulings in cases involving politicians.