Former President Abdulla Yameen has said that it may be good to think about bringing experienced foreign judges and form specialized courts to handle cases related to major investments in Maldives.

During the People's National Front (PNF) rally in Addu, Yameen said that even though there is an interest in bringing in foreign investments, there are various obstacles surrounding it. He said that one of them is the lack of trust in Maldives' justice system.

While highlighting that major business disputes stall in courts and many years go by, causing investors to lose trust, Yameen proposed special courts for such cases be established and to bring in experienced foreign judges.

"What would happen for example, if mercantile courts are formed and judges who practiced in Singapore are brought for cases regarding foreign investment, major Maldivian cases and disputes," said Yameen. 

Yameen said that this is included in his manifesto for the 2028 Presidential Election.

Yameen said that establishing these courts and having cases filed to the courts, experienced foreign judges would successfully close the case within around 15 days. Yameen said that the case being closed in such a complete manner would make it so that whoever loses the case will have no other court to go to.

"Judges brought to Maldives in that manner will not be influenced by opposing counsel or by the state," said Yameen.

Yameen stated that the best course of action to maintain the trust of major foreign investors is to form strong laws, and find judges who are capable, cannot be influenced and have enough integrity to the point they cannot be bought.

Maldives' tourism industry is a multi-million dollar industry and that there is no reason something at this scale should be done to defend it, said Yameen. He also said even though the judges would have to be paid USD 60,000, Maldives would have the capacity to support it.