Prosecutors on Wednesday re-filed charges against opposition Jumhoory Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim, two days after the Criminal Court dismissed the case.
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.
Criminal Court on Tuesday threw out the case against the Maamigili lawmaker Ibrahim after prosecutors failed to show up for the hearing.
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.
