High Court Assistant Registrar Hussain Mohamed Haneef, who testified against the Supreme Court judges, has been offered a senior position in Fenaka.
It is not clear exactly what position Haneef was offered. But a Fenaka official confirmed to Adhadhu that he was offered a job.
A source with information on the matter said Haneef has now resigned from the High Court.
Supreme Court Justices Dr. Azmiralda Zahir, Mahaz Ali Zahir and Husnu Suood were suspended after Haneef was summoned to the apex court for refusing to provide important documents in connection with a case.
Suood was accused of using offensive language and Mahaz and Azmiralda were present during the meeting.
According to reliable sources, Haneef was summoned to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) twice - during the investigation against the justices and the subcommittee on the proceedings.
Adhadhu understands that Haneef testified against the three justices.
However, the case has halted although the investigation is completed. But the justices have not yet been told to respond to the accusation.
Suood has since resigned in protest against influence and intimidation by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and his Attorney General (AG) Ahmed Usham.
Meanwhile, Azmiralda and Mahaz were dismissed after an inquiry by the JSC subcommittee into a separate allegation.
The JSC launched abrupt proceedings after the Supreme Court began hearing the constitutional amendment that empowers political parties to disqualify MPs for switching parties.
The members of the JSC subcommittee, which recommended the dismissal, are Mohamed Nasih, Yazmeed Mohamed and Ali Abdul Latheef. Nasih and Yazmeed are appointed by Muizzu. Nasih is the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and Yazmeen is Muizzu's representative on the JSC.
Azmiralda, Mahaz and Suood were suspended on February 26, shortly before a hearing on the constitutional case, after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) fabricated a criminal investigation against them and failed to follow procedures in rushing the letter about the investigation to the JSC.
They were suspended without an opportunity to respond to the allegations. Mahaz and Azmiralda were also not allowed to seek the assistance of legal counsel and present evidence and witnesses during the proceedings.
The matter is now at the parliament's Judiciary Committee. Their dismissal will be finalised when the parliament approves.
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for the suspension of two Supreme Court judges to be lifted and their posts restored.
A UN expert had also expressed concern as the chosen counsel of the justices were not given the opportunity to speak at the disciplinary proceedings.
“The disciplinary proceedings brought against three of the Supreme Court’s Justices appear to violate the principle that judges can only be dismissed on serious grounds of misconduct or incompetence and in accordance with fair procedures guaranteeing objectivity and impartiality as provided for by the Constitution or the law,” said Margaret Satterthwaite, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.
“The pressure of suspensions, disciplinary proceedings and investigations may amount to an interference in the independence of this institution.”
