ACC insists case against three SC justices being treated as ‘special priority’ as probe extends beyond a year

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) says that the criminal investigation it opened against three Supreme Court justices last year – an investigation that cost them their seat at the top court – remains ongoing as a matter of special priority – even as the investigation extends beyond a year.

On February 26, 2025, Supreme Court judges Dr. Azmiralda Zahir, Mahaz and Husnu Al-Suood were suspended by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), citing an ongoing investigation by the against them by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). All three were hearing a case challenging the controversial move by the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) to write anti-defection clauses into the Maldivian constitution.  It also came shortly after the ruling PNC used its supermajority in the Parliament to push through amendments to the Judicature Act to downsize the Supreme Court bench from seven to five justices - a bill that was later tabled following public backlash.

Suood resigned from the top court in protest of JSC’s decision, and the commission later opened misconduct cases against Azmiralda and Mahaz, accusing them of conspiring to influence the Criminal Court. Azmiralda and Mahaz - both of whom claim that the allegations against them are baseless and that the investigations by the JSC were tainted by the denial of due process to them - were dismissed by the Parliament with majority votes of 68-11 on May 14, 2025.

It has now been a year since the ACC opened its investigation.

When questioned about the progress in the investigation and the delay in reaching a conclusion, a spokesperson from the ACC responded that the investigation remains ongoing, and is being treated as a special priority.

“The investigation remains ongoing as a matter of special priority,” responded the spokesperson, without disclosing any details.

The ACC has repeatedly refused to disclose any details regarding the case against the three former justices, saying that the commission has a legal duty to investigate allegations of corruption filed with them, without exception.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration has been accused of dismissing the justices in order to influence the constitutional case. However, these allegations are denied by the administration.