"Glad to have worked without influence": Mahaz

Mahaz Ali Zahir, who was removed from his post as a Supreme Court judge yesterday, said he is proud to have served without yielding to any external or internal influence.

Parliament approved the dismissal of both Mahaz and fellow Supreme Court judge Dr Azmiralda Zahir following a recommendation from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

JSC accused the two of attempting to influence a Criminal Court judge to release Azmiralda’s husband, Dr Ismail Latheef.

In a post on X, Mahaz expressed satisfaction with his work on the bench, saying he remained independent throughout his time at the Supreme Court.

"I am happy to have reached this point without yielding to any influence," he wrote.

"God willing, happy days ahead, and I would like to thank the public and individual organizations who spoke out against unlawful acts," he said.

Mahaz was appointed to the Supreme Court in November 2019, after previously serving as a judge at the Drug Court since 2012. During his time on the bench, he presided over several significant cases.

The dismissal has drawn concern from international and local organizations, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth, and the Bar Council of Maldives, as well as other foreign bodies regarding the decision by the JSC and the Parliament’s Judiciary Committee.