PG Abbas says he has no intention of initiating reviews into former PG Shameem's decisions. However, he has opened a 20 day period where the PG office will accept complaints that will be reviewed by a committee.
Despite the allegations of mishandling some cases against former Prosecutor General (PG) Hussain Shameem during his dismissal from office, there are no plans to initiate reviews into Shameem's work, said newly appointed PG Abbas Shareef.
Shameem was removed from office on August 22 with 65 parliamentary votes. The petition to dismiss Shameem on grounds of no confidence was proposed by MP of Hulhudhoo constituency Mohamed Shahid. Shameem was also summoned to a closed-door meeting of the Parliament's Judiciary Committee over this matter.
Shameem denied the allegations and categorised them as an excuse to remove him from office.
When asked at Abbas' first press briefing since assuming office whether he plans to review Shameem's decisions amidst the parliament's allegations, he said that he would not take the initiative to do so.
"I do not plan to initiate a review into the former PG's decisions. Not at the moment. I understand as I say this that there were discussions at the Parliament about some cases, and that it was the reason why the former PG was removed," Abbas explained.
Instead, he plans to open up complaint applications regarding these cases, he said. If complaints are filed within the next 20 days, a designated committee will review the case, he added.
"Instead of initiating a review, we are opening the opportunity for everyone. If, during that opportunity, President Yameen's case is raised, the committee we have formed will take it up for review,just as we would with any other case," Abbas said.
Abbas said he does not want to decide which cases to review himself as it may prompt various accusations; something he wants to avoid.
"If I don't take up a certain case or if I do take on a certain case and change the former PG's decisions, I will be met with allegations. [They'd say] I chose it due to some personal reasons. I don't want to create that opportunity. That's not how I want to do it," he further said.
As such, he urged any complaints regarding the former PG's cases to be escalated to the PG Office directly.
Shameem's dismissal as PG came after his resignation from office, However, the ruling party People's National Congress (PNC) majority Parliament claimed it had not received his resignation, and voted to dismiss him.
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