Judges appointed to High Court and Criminal Court took their oath of office last night.
In a meeting last Monday, the Judicial Service Commission confirmed the appointment of judges to fill the vacancies at both these courts.
Former High Court Judge Abdul Rauf Ibrahim and Criminal Court Judge Ismail Shafeeu were appointed to the High Court.
The vacancy at the Criminal Court was filled by Chief Magistrate at L. Kalaidhoo Magistrate Court Ahmed Niyaz.
Supreme Court Judge Abdulla Hameed administered the oath to the newly appointed judges at a ceremony held last night at the court.
Rauf previously resigned from the High Court after the JSC, during the previous administration, had decided to remove him after investigating his acceptance of a flat during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration. He has later contested for the Keyodhoo constituency parliament seat on a ruling People's National Congress (PNC) ticket.
Rauf, who served as a High Court Judge from March 2011 to May 31, 2022, holds a Bachelor of Law from Malaysia's International Islamic University.
Rauf later served as Senior Legal Counsel at MPL. Prior to this, he worked as a Legal Assistant at the Attorney General's Office, Legal Counsel and Legal Consultant at STO, and Assistant Registrar at Civil Court.
Shafeeu has had a career spanning seven years in the judiciary, and hold a Bachelor of Law from Cardiff University, UK.
Until his appointment to the High Court, he was serving as a Criminal Court Judge. He was appointed to the Criminal Court on September 21, 2021. He earlier worked as a public prosecutor at the Prosecutor General's Office.
Niyaz holds a Bachelor of Law from Villa College. He has been working in the judiciary for over 12 years.
Until his appointment to the Criminal Court, Niyaz served as Chief Magistrate at the L. Kalaidhoo Magistrate Court, to which he was appointed in November, 2013.
