Adhadhu has learnt that the Anti-Corruption (ACC) letter to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) about the criminal investigation into the fabricated case against Supreme Court judges Husnu Suood, Mahaz Ali Zahir and Dr. Azmiralda Zahir was sent against general norms and exchanged "hand-to-hand."
The Government E-Letter Management System (GEMS) is used to exchange documents between government agencies. All government agencies are connected to the system and it is designed to send all documents, including confidential documents.
Multiple sources confirmed to Adhadhu that an ACC employee left the office at 09:45 am to go to the JSC with the letter. The employee arrived at the JSC office at around 10:00 am on February 26.
It appears that the letter was delivered physically in violation of general norms because the government-controlled ACC was aware of a planned emergency meeting of JSC on that day.
The JSC meeting is usually held every Wednesday at 2:00 pm. However, an emergency meeting was held at 10:30 am on February 26. An emergency session requires the signatures of three members and only 13 minutes notice was served.
The JSC suspended three Supreme Court judges shortly before the hearing on a petition to quash the constitutional amendment that disqualifies MPs for changing political parties. The hearing was scheduled for 11:00 am.
The hearing was scheduled on February 25 when former Kendhoo MP Ali Hussain requested the court to issue an interim order to suspend procedures for MP disqualification until a final decision is reached in the case.
The ACC has refused to comment on the fabricated case against the judges.
"We cannot comment at this time as the investigation is ongoing. All your questions are connected to the investigation," a spokesperson for the ACC said.
The JSC and ACC did not provide any information about the investigation. In addition to the ACC probe, the JSC is also investigating a disciplinary complaint against the three judges.
Meanwhile, Supreme Court Justice Husnu Suood has resigned in protest against alleged influence by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on judges in connection with the constitutional case on disqualification of MPs.
In his letter addressed to Muizzu, Suood said the Judicial Service Commission's (JSC) suspension of three Supreme Court judges was an attempt by his government to influence the courts and stop the constitutional case.
"Three judges of the Supreme Court were suspended, the People's Majlis passed a bill to reduce the number of judges and all the judges of the Supreme Court were intimidated to conclude the mentioned case as you wished. Since you continue to influence judges in violation of Article 141 (d) and (e), I have resigned in protest effective immediately," Suood stated.
