Speaker Mohamed Aslam on Saturday asked the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for a probe to determine whether a judgment in the appeal of former President Abdulla Yameen's 11-year prison sentence on bribery and money laundering charges was delayed due to influence over judges.
Aslam - who is a member of the JSC by virtue of office in his capacity as the Speaker of Parliament - announced that he would submit a complaint to the JSC during a rally held in Addu city on Friday night with opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidates contesting for the city's constituencies. Aslam is also seeking re-election in Addu's Hithadhoo Uthuru constituency.
"As I sit as a JSC member in the capacity of the Speaker of the People's Majlis, I will file the case tomorrow to look into why President Yameen's trial is delayed. I will make the JSC investigate the case," Aslam said.
"As delivering a judgment is being delayed, even four months after hearings in President Yameen's appeal concluded, I propose for the JSC to look into whether this is due to judges failing to uphold ethical standards because of any kind of influence over them," the complaint submitted to the JSC on Saturday stated.
JSC Secretary General Aminath Nadha confirmed the submission of the complaint.
She said the complaint will be tabled in the agenda for a commission meeting after a review by the investigation committee.
The last hearing in Yameen's appeal at the High Court was held on November 21, 2023. The court heard closing arguments at the hearing before reaching a decision.
The three-judge bench hearing Yameen's appeal includes Judges Mohamed Saleem, Huzaifa Mohamed and Hassan Shafeeu.
