Judge Ali Rasheed is to takeover matters at the Criminal Court temporarily, following the suspension of Chief Judge Ahmed Hailam.

Judge Hailam was suspended on Tuesday morning following the Judicial Service Commission (JSC)’s decision to investigate a disciplinary issue against him.

Judge Rasheed was appointed to the court in February this year, he previously worked at the Drug Court. Prior to this, he served as the Chief Judge at the Civil Court as well.

Some of the high-profile cases in which Judge Rasheed is presiding over include the case murdered blogger and social media activist, Yameen Rasheed.

Further, Judge Rasheed pardoned former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb from presenting himself to court over the case where he attempted to escape on a tugboat in India.