Prosecutors on Tuesday defended their failure to show up for opposition Jumhoory Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim's trial insisting that the Criminal Court had thrown out the case after an official request for a one day recess was submitted.
The business magnate had three separate charges levied against him, which include, conspiring to overthrow the government, attempting to bribe government lawmakers ahead of the censure motion against parliament speaker Abdullah Maseeh in late March, and undue influence on a state official.
The court had given enough time for the prosecutors to attend the second hearing on Tuesday before the three bench dismissed the case.
Prosecutor General's (PG) office however said the prosecution had in writing, asked the court to delay the hearing for Wednesday which was the reason behind the no-show.
Hours after the case dismissal, judicial watchdog demoted chief criminal judge Abdul Baaree Yoosuf and another criminal court judge to the juvenile court.
Judicial Service Commission (JSC) said the move was instructed by the Supreme Court, but the reasons remain unclear.
JSC had summoned Judge Baaree for unknown reasons on Tuesday morning, hours before Gasim's trial resumed.
The now united opposition has long accused the government of undue influence over the judiciary, using the courts to jail political opponents on trumped up charges.
However, criminal court's most recent rulings had been in favour of the opposition which included the acquittal of deputy JP leader Abdulla Riyaz.
Maldives has been hit by fresh political strife after the opposition wrested parliament control from the government to file a fresh censure motion against the speaker.
