The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is being controlled by the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), main-opposition leader and former President of the Maldives, Abdulla Yameen has claimed.
Yameen made the allegation while speaking at the "Afirin Yameen" rally held at Addu City's Hithadhoo on Monday night.
Speaking at the rally, Yameen said during the 2018 presidential campaign, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and MDP leaders had repeatedly claimed that JSC was controlled by then-President Yameen. He then questioned whose influence was now being exerted on the JSC.
"During the campaign, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had questioned how justice can be established. He claimed that JSC was being controlled by President Yameen. He has now forgotten what he said then. Canceled, correct? Now the JSC is even more powerful gripped within the fists of the MDP," he said.
Yameen further said all judges are now being intimidated and held hostage. He said the people who came to power in the name of establishing justice had refused to change the composition of the JSC, and refused to even debate the motion filed by the PPM in the Parliament. Such people must not speak about establishing justice, he said.
The former president went on to state that establishing justice does not start at the judges' tables, but when the prosecution makes an accusation against a person. The case reaches the judges in the final stages of the process, he said, noting that cases are now being investigated by politically motivated police.
President Yameen arrived in Addu City on November 6. This is the first time he has visited Addu City since the 2018 presidential election. He is scheduled to visit all the islands in the city.
President Yameen has increased his trips to the atolls since he was handed the PPM presidential ticket to contest the upcoming presidential election. Since receiving the party ticket, he first visited the Haa Alif atoll, including Ha. Dhidhoo, Ihavandhoo, Baarah, Kelaa and Thuraakunu. Since then, in the third week of last month, President Yameenvisited some Noonu atoll islands.
