Police have summoned Chief Judge of the Criminal Court, Abdulla Mohamed, for questioning at 8.30pm in an “ongoing investigation.”
According to the Criminal Court, the summons was delivered at 12.30pm today. Judge Abdulla had ordered the immediate release of minority opposition Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) Deputy Leader Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed from police custody last night.
A police media official confirmed the summons but could not divulge details of “an ongoing investigation.”
Judge Abdulla’s lawyer and Independent MP for Guraidhoo, Ibrahim Riza, told local daily Haveeru that the chief judge would comply with the summons but was “unaware that police are investigating a case involving him.”
He added that the news “came as a shock” to the judge.
On October 26, Judge Abdulla had ruled that the arrest of Gassan Maumoon – son of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom – on suspicion of hurling a wooden block at protesters was unlawful, establishing a precedent that police could not arrest suspects without an arrest warrant “unless the arresting officer observes the offence being committed”.
The contentious ruling led police to release 11 suspects while the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) sought legal clarification on criminal justice procedures.
Ethical misconduct
In 2005, then Attorney General Dr Hassan Saeed forwarded to the President’s Office concerns about the conduct of Abdulla Mohamed after he allegedly requested that an underage victim of sexual abuse reenact her abuse for the court.
In 2009 following the election of the current government, those documents were sent to the oversight body Judicial Service Commission (JSC), which was requested to launch an investigation into the outstanding complaints as well as alleged obstruction of “high-profile corruption investigations”.
The JSC decided not to proceed with the investigation on July 30, 2009. However in November last year, the JSC completed an investigation into a complaint of ethical misconduct against the judge.
The case was presented to the JSC in January 2010 by former President’s member of the JSC, Aishath Velezinee, after Abdulla Mohamed appeared on private network DhiTV and expressed “biased political views”.
Velezinee observed at the time that it was the first time the JSC had ever completed an investigation into a judge’s misconduct.
“There are many allegations against Abdulla Mohamed, but one is enough,” she said.
“If the JSC decides, all investigation reports, documents and oral statements will be submitted to parliament, which can then decide to remove him with a simple two-thirds majority.”
In October 2011, the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) appealed for assistance from the international community over the “increasingly blatant collusion between politicians loyal to the former autocratic President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and senior members of the judiciary – most of whom were appointed by Gayoom during his thirty years of power.”
The MDP statement also referred to the corruption trial of Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim, charged with multiple counts of defrauding the former Atolls Ministry, which remains “indefinitely delayed.”
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The madness of this republic is so intense, there is nothing called human quality. The Courts are simply parallel opposition…… No sense to base judgments to protect the interest of a government elected by the people. Saving the government is not more important than to work along with the interest of rogue individuals who are clearly working in the interest of their own agenda. It is better Anni become dictator for a while and squeeze very body’s balls till the whole systems are overhauled.
MDP and DQP has been succesful atlast, they have captured the crooked JUDGE FUDGE abdullah in action, red handed. No wonder MAummoon and mr Baaqqdat party are running like fools terrified at the news.
Signs of Dictatorship of this regime!! Judge Abdulla is not a good character either..but we are seeing immature politics of cronies in Anni's government who feeds on public money and ill advise Anni to be a dictator!! Welcome to the dICtatorship!!
"In October 2011, the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) appealed for assistance from the international community over the “increasingly blatant collusion between politicians loyal to the former autocratic President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and senior members of the judiciary – most of whom were appointed by Gayoom during his thirty years of power.”
We keep forgetting that Gayyoom wasn't just snoozing in his comfortable Palace for 30 years. He ensured his (and familiy's) survival by erecting every possible obstruction in the newly constructed "democracy". We can say that effective control of the 3rd power of the State, i.e. the Judiciary is actually in the hands of the Gayyoom loyalists. Gayyoom was smart enough to know that without proper independence of the Judiciary, the rest of the 2 powers will be left handcuffed and this is what's been going on since 2008.
No amount of appealing to the "international community" is going to solve this. This is our own problem and we created this for ourselves. Nasheed cannot do anything about it now; it's simply too late in the day. The opportunity of a lifetime, to clean up the country has been lost forever and gone! Any action he takes now will be seen as "dictatorial" and will no doubt fall foul of the liberal Constitution. It will also add fuel to the fire of his opponents who are keen to latch on to even the slightest mistake he may make.
You never get a second chance at these things. Libya got it right by getting rid of ALL the old guard. We could learn a thing or two from that. Nasheed's admirable aim of keeping the old guard in the country to live out their retirement was a huge mistake. Firstly, Nasheed should've known better than to leave his enemy wounded, only to come back at him later on...
Right you are Ahmed.
Whatever color or stripe or bias we display, all of us can now agree that the Nasheed administration no longer has the support or strength to hold on to power any longer.
The politicization of the judiciary was never helped by Hassan Afeef's earlier intrusion through the Judicial Services Commission and the several despicable measures he set in place to seize control then either.
Nasheed has lost control and in the interests of stability the powers that be will eventually bring about a change of regime. We cannot escape this truth any longer.
Ah, this is the money game. The Maldivians are victims.
The Maldives economy will survive even if all it's citizens were uneducated, sleeping or in riots the whole day. In a way it's better that way - as long as they don't meddle with tourism.
The old guards and the new are all together having the time of their life!
Let us agree that Maldives should go back to being a dictatorship. The British taught Mohamed Nasheed to use democracy to get the presidency.Now that Dictator Maumoon is toppled democracy has no use.
Back to dictatorship!
a dictator was just born
Very sadly Maldives has a military government. The head of judiciary is currently in Dhoonidhoo jail.
I think it is time to sweep these trouble makers. Arrest Gayoom, Gassan, Yaameen and this judge and things will settle down. We cannot do anything in this country unless we bring justice to them.
totally in agreement with Ahmed bin Addu bin Suvadheeb
I think we have to find a way to change these judges who are working for political parties. The time is coming for the people to hand justice to Gayoom.
Maldivians can never enjoy democracy until we bring Justice to Maumoon. Unless the leaders know the consequences for their actions, we are not going to see any changes. There are some countries where they can never enjoy the Jeffersonian type of democracy. We need an honest dictator like Singapore or Dr. Mahathir to develop our country. If Anni can flex his muscles and do the best for the country, we will forgive him when he throws judges.
hey, mad guys!!!
No Head of State shall tolerate what Judge Abdulla and his colleagues doing. The root-cause of today's situation is all these days (almost 30 years) these unskilled and skilled Judges were getting little chances of bribes and all of a sudden the 3 powers are separated and these clever and dirty-minded judges are rushing around looking for better bribe offers from the power-hungry crooks like Dr Hassan, Thasmeen who was brought up by his father to become this country's President and the notorious Gayyoom & his cronies.
I think the Prosecutor General is BLIND...Otherwise he should see and feel when his country's Judiciary is systematically doing INJUSTICE...Look at how the World's renowned scholars in the field of Justice comment on our Judiciary...Think about the how the ICJ commented on our Judiciary.
The Head of State must have taken appropriate action against the Biggest Crooks of the country like Judge Abdulla long, long ago..I don't like the President's delay taking this urgent and important action against State enemies.
When and if any of the 2 powers keeping silent and tolerating such CRIMES, it's the Head of State's duty and responsibility to take action. I believe the Judiciary and the Majlis failed providing Justice to the People. If you look at the CRIMINALS, they have no hesitation to do any crime like murder, theft even in the presence of Police. So, my question is how long the Head of State should wait and see enjoying the art of doing nothing...
So, my dear bloody-fool demonstrators!!! be ware of the consequences of your actions accepting the dirty-minded power-hungry crooks' wrong and misinformation...
This Abdulla Gaazee is the biggest threat to democracy in the Maldives. He should be locked up for the rest of his life!!
This country cannot go on as a state with people like Abdulla Ghazee as head of criminal court. He is clearly under the power of Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom. I hope the MNDF chiefs have the strength of commitment to the people of the country to keep him in custody.
Without prejudice; this judge has been a real paint to us all!