Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has stated that the hearings in the second investigation they are conducting against Supreme Court Judge Dr Azmiralda Zahir also cannot be held open to the public.
JSC is currently conducting two separate investigations against Judge Azmiralda. The first involves allegations that she had influenced Criminal Court judges seeking release when her husband Dr Ismail Latheef had been arrested.
The second case regards allegations that she had been present when former Supreme Court Judge HusnuSuood had summoned Assistant Registrar of High Court Hussain Mohamed Haneef and addressed him using offensive language.
Azmiralda had requested the JSC to hold open hearings in the hearings on the first case as well, which they had refused.
Alongside Judge Azmiralda, these allegations are being investigated against Supreme Court Judge Mahaz Ali Zahir as well. Both are currently on suspension as the Anti Corruption Commission, too, investigates the first case.
Former Judge HusnuSuood was also placed in suspension at the time, but he later handed in his resignation.
Azmiralda has rejected the allegations against her, stating that she had in no way attempted to influence Criminal Court judges and had not made any calls to any judges regarding the case in question. She dismisses the allegations as baseless and false.
Judge Mahaz also rejected allegations against him, stating he had been unaware of the arrest of the spouse of a Supreme Court judge until after the Criminal Court had already ruled on his remand.