JSC investigates two judges on alleged misconduct
JSC investigating complaints publicly to improve confidence in the judicial system
The Judicial Commission (JSC) of the Maldives has been receiving a greater number of complaints in recent years
The Judicial Service Commission of the Maldives has begun investigating two judges, Civil Court Judge Rizmeena Idrees and Criminal Court Judge Hassan Saeed on grounds of alleged misconduct.
The JSC revealed that they had decided to investigate the case allegations of misconduct submitted against Judge Rizmeena Idrees of the Civil Court at a meeting on 17 March 2021. Judge Rizmeena Idrees is believed to have conducted a trial in the absence of legal representation for one party, at a time the counsel was already physically present at the court.
The JSC has recently been initiating public investigations into cases submitted against judges, such as the case being investigated against Criminal Court Judge Hassan Saeed.
On Sunday, the JSC revealed that that the current investigation against Judge Hassan Saeed pertaining to a complaint submitted while he was presiding over cases at the Family Court. According to the complaint, in 2018, Judge Hassan Saeed had helped two employees of the Family Court travel abroad and perform a wedding ceremony.
A complaint had been submitted against Judge Hassan Saeed by the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) earlier in February as well, which had prompted investigation on behalf of the JSC, as the complaint had cited that Judge Hassan Saeed went against standard protocol and precedent for such cases in legitimizing the release of former Minister Ali Waheed's passport with a court order. Former Minister of Tourism Ali Waheed is currently being on trial for seven counts of sexual violence, including attempted rape and inflicting sexual injury.
Judge Hassan Saeed, who issued the court order to release Ali Waheed's passport, has previously been investigated by the JSC for a complaint submitted while he was presiding over cases at the Family Court. At the time, the JSC had concluded the investigation by issuing a warning to Judge Hassan Saeed and having him transferred to another court, namely, the Criminal Court.
Judge Hassan Saeed was also suspended once in 2016, following a review of a complaint submitted against him by the JSC.
While the JSC has completed investigations in 54 cases submitted to them in the year 2020, 44 out of 114 cases submitted in 2019 had been reviewed by an investigative committee as well. The JSC has revealed that they have removed nine judges, suspended two and issued warnings to four additional judges in relation to these cases.
Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath notes that while only 9 complaints had bene summitted to the JSC in 2018, that number had gone up to 114 in the year 2019, as the JSC has been actively strengthening their complaints review system in order to instill public confidence in the judiciary.
