Documents from the People's Majlis have shown that Attorney General (AG) Ahmed Usham voted to remove judges during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
The Supreme Court had five judges at the start of the 19th session of the People's Majlis. The number was increased to seven by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)-controlled parliament.
The new Supreme Court bench was formed after investigating serious allegations against the judges on the previous bench.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) investigated cases against Chief Justice Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi, Justice Adam Mohamed Abdulla, Justice Abdulla Didi and Justice Abdul Ghani Mohamed. JSC requested the parliament for their removal.
The parliament's judiciary committee decided that the JSC investigations were fair. Supreme Court justices can be removed from a vote on the parliament floor.
At the time, Usham was an independent MP for Villimale' constituency. He voted in favor of the removal of all the judges.
On August 28, 2019, Usham voted in favor of Justice Abdulla Didi's dismissal. On November 18, 2019, a vote was taken to remove two judges. Usham voted to remove Chief Justice Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi and Justice Adam Mohamed Abdulla. On December 4, 2019, Usham also voted to remove Justice Abdul Ghani Mohamed.
He was later appointed as the AG when President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu assumed office in November 2023 and has never declared that he was forced to vote for the judges' removal.
But in a post on X on Friday, he accused the former administration of influencing the judiciary.
"Taking disciplinary action against judges in connection with what they say or decide in the courtroom was ended from November 2023," Usham claimed.
Usham further lied about the number of suspended and demoted judges in the current administration.
Meanwhile, Muizzu, Usham and the heads of the JSC and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have been accused of intimidating judges in connection with a constitutional case.
Three Supreme Court Justices were suspended shortly before a hearing on the petition to quash the constitutional amendment that disqualifies MPs for changing political parties.
But the hearing was cancelled as the full bench must sit for constitutional cases.
On the same morning, the government-controlled People's Majlis approved an amendment to the Judicature Act to reduce the size of the Supreme Court bench.
The JSC claims that the justices were suspended after the ACC began a criminal investigation.
The anti-corruption watchdog has refused to provide any information about the investigation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir's legal team said the investigation against the judges was fabricated for political reasons.
Meanwhile, Justice Husnu Suood resigned on February 4 in protest against the intimidation of judges.
