Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives' (PPM) deputy leader and Fonadhoo constituency lawmaker Abdul-Raheem Abdulla has confirmed the aim of proposing amendments to the Judges Act is an effort to lawfully take action against both Chief Justice and top-court judge - who were recently arrested.
According to PPM deputy leader under the current Judges Act both chief justice Abdulla Saeed and Supreme Court judge Ali Hameed are protected - since the law does not permit specific action against individuals holding the designations both men currently hold.
The lawmaker proposed amendment said a judge convicted of a criminal offence would be removed with immediate effect after the sentence. The amendment was also designed to bypass the constitutional article on removal of judges arguing that it does not relate to the conduct of judges.
The amendment said the judicial service commission (JSC) must suspend the judge with pay following his or her arrest. However, once the judge is formally charged he or she would cease to receive pay while he or she would be immediately removed from office if convicted.
The ruling party in its amendment has also limited the time for appeal. A convicted judge must file the first appeal within 10 days while first appellate court is given 30 days to arrive at a sentence. The same time frame has been afforded to the Supreme Court as the last stage of appeal.
"The reason for proposing such an amendment is to ensure such an incident does not occur and those responsible are held properly accountable for their actions," Abdul-Raheem said adding, "while the top court judges were in association of former presidents and others to overthrow the government we cannot take legal action against them under the current law."
The lawmaker reasoned that such an amendment would ensure authority figures such as chief justices and top court judges cannot exploit their power should the law gets amended to hold such individuals responsible for their offenses as well.
Furthermore the ruling party's deputy leader highlighted the responsibilities or parliamentarians stating it is their duty to amend laws and regulations accordingly in light of transpiring events and incidents. He also recommended the bill to be moved for approval without further committee discussions.
