The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has prevented Supreme Court Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir from seeking a lawyer's assistance in the secretive disciplinary proceedings against her.
Azmiralda attended the JSC at 10:00 am today. The investigative committee, chaired by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's member Yazmeed Mohamed, spent about an hour to take her statement.
Lawyer Ibrahim Shameel told Adhadhu after the hearing that her client denied the allegations. He expressed concern as the JSC did not allow the lawyer to speak in her defense.
"They did not give me the opportunity. They reiterated that the lawyer cannot speak," Shameel said.
He also revealed that a government official contacted Azmiralda through a representative to influence the constitutional case on MP disqualification.
"The message was passed on behalf of a government official through another person, that a disciplinary case [against her] was pending. [The judge] said that a senior government official had passed the message to her directly in connection with the [constitutional] case," Shameel said.
JSC began the disciplinary proceedings after suspending Azmiralda and two other Supreme Court Justices when the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) said a criminal investigation was underway.
The disciplinary proceedings are connected to allegations that Azmiralda influenced Criminal Court judges to release her husband, Dr. Ismail Latheef, who was arrested during a police raid at a spa.
She is also accused of being present at a meeting where Justice Husnu Suood summoned a High Court official to the Supreme Court and used "offensive language."
JSC can no longer conduct disciplinary proceedings against Suood since he resigned in protest of the intimidation of judges and influence on the constitutional case.
Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir was summoned to the investigative committee on Sunday. Adhadhu understands that Mahaz was suspended over a different case.
