Committee approves appointment of Abbas as Prosecutor General

Parliament's Judiciary Committee has today voted in approval of appointing Abbas Shareef as Prosecutor General (PG).

Abbas has been serving as the Legal Secretary at the President's Office. He was previously a Judge at the High Court.

While there were six applicants to the post of PG, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had nominated Abbas alone, and forwarded his name to parliament for approval. The Judiciary Committee, tasked with reviewing the nomination, interviewed Abbas earlier today.

After the interview, Abbas was awarded a score of 93.91 percent by the committee members. His nomination was approved by the committee together with the votes of members from opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

An extraordinary sitting of Parliament is scheduled for tomorrow, where MPs will vote on his appointment. Once parliament votes, the President will appoint him to the post.

Answering questions posed by MPs, Abbas said that he not applied for the post on the advice of or instruction from any political figures.

He pointed out that in his career as a High Court Judge, he had ruled in many cases, both political and criminal, and said that he had faced many threats in that role.

However, he asserted that he had remained free of coercion or prejudice in ruling in all such cases.

"Even then, I was able to do so because I came with integrity. I am in the same spirit even today."

Abbas said that media had been made aware of his intention to apply for the post when he had applied for a police record.

He said that prior to this, he had not shared his intention with any persons.

"Once I was confident that I have the capability to fill the position, I applied for a police record. At that point, it got published in the news. That is when cabinet ministers working alongside me also became aware of this fact," he said.

"Even to the point when I submitted my application, neither the President, nor a minister, nor any political figures had asked me to apply," he said.

Abbas went on to praise some of the administrative changes brought during former PG Hussain Shameem's time in office, but said that some decisions raised questions.

Abbas is a lawyer with extensive experience in the field, and had studied in the legal field at the University of Tasmania. He has served as legal representation for former Presidents Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Abdulla Yameen.

Abbas also served as a High Court Judge from 2011 to 2015.