The case concerning the dismissal of Criminal Court Judge Al-Ustaz Hussain Faizu Rashad has been sent to the Judiciary Committee. The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) submitted the proposal to the People’s Majlis (Parliament) for the removal of Criminal Court Judge Hussain Faizu Rashad on the 26th of last month. The Speaker has referred the matter to the Judiciary Committee for review. The letter submitted by the JSC, requesting a decision on the judge’s removal from judicial office, stated that a case alleging Judge Hussain Faizu Rashad acted contrary to the Constitution and laws in determining the remand of Ali Anwar of Koaziekoanaa, S. Hithadhoo, was investigated as a disciplinary matter of the judge, and it was noted that the alleged act was proven to have been committed by Judge Faizu.
It is noteworthy that Ali Anwar, who was released from detention on Judge Faizu Rashad’s order, is a person whom the police suspect of being a ringleader in trafficking illicit drugs into the Maldives. Police had previously arrested him in a case involving 70 kilograms of illicit drugs. Subsequently, in another emerging case, after ordering his detention for 5 days, when he was presented to court again upon the expiration of the period, the court released him without any conditions. Two cases concerning Criminal Court Judge Hussain Faizu Rashad were submitted to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). In connection with this, he was also suspended on October 23rd of last year. It is understood that the second case submitted regarding Judge Faizu concerned his handling of the detention of Halimath Lamha, who was remanded until the conclusion of her trial in a murder case.
In connection with these cases, Judge Faizu was then suspended for a period of 60 days, which is the longest duration a judge can be suspended. It is worth noting that in 2021, Judge Faizu Rashad was also suspended for two months. At that time, Faizu was suspended due to a leaked audio issue. However, the suspension was lifted on December 26th of that year. According to the Judges Act of the Maldives, a judge can only be removed if the Judicial Service Commission believes that the person is not qualified for the judicial post or has committed an act unsuitable for that position, and subsequently submits the recommendation for removal to the People’s Majlis, where it must be passed by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting in a Majlis session.
