Judge Azmiralda denies allegations of influencing Criminal Court judges

Supreme Court Judge Dr Azmiralda Zahir has today denied the allegations raised against her of exerting undue influence over Criminal Court judges.

Azmiralda was summoned to the Judicial Services Commission this morning to respond to allegations that she had exerted influence over Criminal Court judges for the release of her husband Dr Ismail Latheef who was earlier arrested.

Responding to questions posed to her in today's hearing, Judge Azmiralda denied the allegations, her lawyer Ibrahim Shameel said. He said that the Judge had asserted that the allegations were baseless and false.

In the same case, Supreme Court Judge Mahaz Ali Zahir was also summoned to JSC on Sunday. He said then that he had been unaware of the arrest of the spouse of a Supreme Court judge until after the Criminal Court had already ruled on his remand.

In an earlier statement, Azmiralda's lawyer Shameel said that in the case where Dr Latheef had been arrested without any criminal charges, Azmiralda had not attempted to influence judges in any way. He asserted that the Judge had not made calls to any lower court judges in relation to the case.

The Anti Corruption Commission is also looking into this case, due to which Supreme Court Judges HusnuSuood, Azmiralda and Mahaz have been placed on suspension. Judge HusnuSuood has since handed in his resignation.

In the case, ACC has now taken statements from Judge Ibrahim Zihunee who had issued the court order, and Judge Safwath Habeeb.

Mihaaru reports that the court order regarding Dr Ismail Habeeb stated that although he was present at the premises that were searched, nothing related to the accusations against him were found.

Hence, as he had no prior record, and is in a responsible job, the Judge decided to release him. Although Criminal Court usually publishes remand orders, this was not published on their website.

Judges Suood, Azmiralda and Mahaz were suspended just fifteen minutes before the start of a scheduled hearing in the case of revocation of a Constitutional amendment regarding the loss of MPs's seats.

The parliament also passed an amendment to the Judicature Act last week, where the number of Judges on the Supreme Court bench is being reduced from seven to five. As of yet, this bill has not been ratified.