Adhadhu has learnt that the initial allegations against Supreme Court Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir were different from the allegations that were heard at the end of the proceedings.
In a letter sent on February 26, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) said it was investigating allegations that Azmiralda phoned Criminal Court judges and influenced them after her husband was arrested and summoned to a remand hearing.
But Adhadhu understands that the investigation report prepared by the JSC committee states that Azmiralda will be dismissed for influencing the Criminal Court judges through the Supreme Court Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir.
Mahaz and Azmiralda are also accused of being present when former High Court Registrar Hussain Mohamad Haneef was summoned to the Supreme Court for refusing to provide important documents related to a case.
After investigating the allegations, the three-member JSC committee decided to remove Azmiralda and Mahaz from the Supreme Court bench. The committee's report was shared with them on Thursday. They are due to respond by Thursday this week.
The committee that conducted the proceedings decided to remove Azmiralda and Mahaz from the Supreme Court bench without allowing them to present witnesses and without giving them the opportunity to use a lawyer.
Mahaz, Azmiralda and former Supreme Court Justice Husnu Suood were suspended on February 26. Suood resigned in protest against the intimidation of judges by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Attorney General (AG) Ahmed Usham.
The Supreme Court judges were suspended after the court accepted a case to quash the constitutional amendment that gave political parties the power to dismiss lawmakers for floor crossing. They were suspended shortly before a hearing was due to start and their suspension has stalled the hearings.
On Thursday, the United Nations said there is a possibility to believe the judges were suspended with the intention of influencing the case.
