Allegations fabricated to influence work: Justice Azmiralda's lawyer

Supreme court Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir's lawyers have denounced the allegations against her made by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) as baseless and a fabricated attempt to exert influence on her work.

Dr. Azmiralda currently remains suspended by JSC which claims there is an active investigation at the ACC against her. Along with her, Justices Husnu Suood and Mahaz Ali Zahir were also suspended. However, Suood tendered his resignation yesterday.

Although ACC confirmed an ongoing criminal investigation against the judges, no information has been revealed indicating the nature of the accusations. However, local reports say Dr. Azmiralda is being investigated by JSC for allegedly influencing Criminal Court judges to release her husband after he was arrested from a spa.

Dr. Azmiralda's lawyer Ibrahim Shameel said in a statement that the claims made accusing her of influencing Criminal Court judges to release her husband, Dr. Ismail, are false. He also said JSC was informed in writing that she had not called or tried to exert any form of influence on judges.

Shameel also pointed out that despite JSC claiming that there is an active investigation against Dr. Azmiralda, which led to her suspension just minutes before a hearing on the anti-defection amendment was due to start, no detailed of these allegations were provided even after a week.

"ACC has not informed [us] at all whether it is investigating a case against the judge or what type of offence it is. Since JSC says claims it is investigating a case against the judge, [we] have requested JSC in writing to clarify this information, but to no avail," the statement read.

"Because of this, the question begs whether this investigation has any merit."

The statement also said that JSC had not responded to the letter sent to the commission seeking information on the meeting held to suspend Dr. Azmiralda and the decision in that meeting.

Shameel accused that several senior figures within the government had tried to use state institutions to influence judges by using Dr. Ismail's case, and said they have submitted a request to the ACC requesting an investigation in to this.

However, ACC has refused to register the case citing lack of evidence suggesting corruption, Shameel said.

"...Justice Azmiralda has been prevented from pursuing justice in these cases as none of the institutions have fulfilled their legal responsibilities in respect of the complaints filed by the judge. Therefore, regarding these matters, [we] implore the individuals in charge of state institutions and those running the government to return to the rule of law and act in accordance with it," the lawyer further said.

Justices Suood, Mahaz Ali Zahir, and Azmiralda were suspended last week 15 minutes before a scheduled Supreme Corut hearing on the constitutional amendment.

The parliament also passed an amendment to downsize the Supreme Court bench from seven to five despite significant concerns raised by those in the legal field. However, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is yet to ratify the amendment.

In his resignation letter, Suood alleged that the government was influencing the anti-defection case, after the Supreme Court decided to continue hearing the case despite the state arguing otherwise.

He pointed out that the law was changed to remove two sitting Supreme Court judges, following which three judges were suspended. He branded this as an act of intimidating and influencing all the judges of the Supreme Court.