The Judicial Service Commission (JSC)’s investigative committee has given Supreme Court Justice Adam Mohamed Abdulla a final opportunity to appoint legal representation.

While the second hearing of the disciplinary issue being investigated against the justice was held on Thursday afternoon, he was given adequate time to seek another defense attorney at the first hearing on Wednesday, however, he failed to appoint legal representation by the given time, which was over 24 hours.

At the beginning of the meeting on Thursday, Justice Abdulla poured several complaints over difficulties surfacing in finding lawyers. He repeatedly stated that appointing legal representation is a right guaranteed to every citizen under the Maldives constitution.

JSC member Hisaan Hussain revealed the committee’s decision to give him a final opportunity to appoint legal representation by 4 November when the next hearing has been scheduled at 10:30am.

She stated that no further opportunities will be given, if he fails to appoint a defense attorney by then.

Judicial Academy’s former Chancellor Ahmed Majid, who turned up at the first hearing as a second attorney, failed to turn up at the second hearing. Justice Abdulla could not provide a reason for this.

The meetings in Justice Abdulla’s case is being held openly as requested by the justice, he had initially appointed former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed as his lawyer which was deemed a “conflict of interest”.

Following this, an additional disciplinary issue was lodged against the justice. Investigations against him began after he refused counselling.