Supreme Court Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir, who is currently suspended from the court's bench, attended the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) today to answer the commission's allegation that she influenced Criminal Court judges to release her husband Dr. Ismail Latheef following a recent arrest.
After the meeting with JSC, Dr. Azmiralda's lawyer Ibrahim Shameel revealed that he was not allowed to speak there.
Shameel, in a statement regarding Azmiralda's testimony to JSC, further said that the commission asked Azmiralda to answer their questions and did not allow him to speak when he wanted to raise legal concerns on behalf of his client.
Pointing out that legal representation is a constitutional right, Shameel branded the investigation unconstitutional.
Shameel also accused Attorney General Ahmed Usham of attempting to influence Azmiralda regarding a Supreme Court case challenging the anti-defection amendment to the constitution by sending a message to her via a proxy.
In the message, Shameel claimed, Usham said that he did not want to meddle with the Supreme Court, and proceeded to talk about a constitutional case at the Supreme Court, of which the defendant is the State.
The statement said this matter is now at the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC).
Denying the allegations against her, Azmiralda maintained that she did not engage in any conduct that would influence Criminal Court judges, and described the allegations as false. She affirmed that she had not called the judges of any court during the time her husband was detained.
While this allegation is also being investigated by the ACC, Criminal Court's judges Ibrahim Zihuny and Safwath Habeeb were also summoned for their testimony regarding the case.
Apart from Azmiralda, Supreme Court Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir was also suspended regarding the same case.
On the day of Dr. Ismail's arrest, the court order regarding his remand was issued at 10:55 in the morning. Local media outlet Mihaaru obtained a copy of the verdict which said that although Dr. Ismail was present at the location of the search, he was not seen engaging in any alleged criminal activity.
Based on this, and the lack of a previous criminal record and his responsible career, the judge decided against remanding him. Although Criminal Court typically publishes such verdicts, this specific verdict was not published.
Both Azmiralda and Mahaz were suspended along with Husnu Suood, who resigned after the suspension. They were temporarily relieved from their responsibilities just 15 minutes before the constitutional case on the anti-defection amendment was scheduled to begin.
The timing also coincided with the Parliament passing a bill to downsize the Supreme Court bench from seven to five justices - a move heavily criticised by the legal community. However it is yet to be ratified by the President.