Former Attorney General and famed local advocate Husnu Suood had called out for the resignation of the judges who acted under apparent pressure from top-court judge Ali Hameed; who had instructed specific rules be passed for contentious motives.
Multiple confidential testimonials were leaked from inside the Maldives Police Service which had exposed several pressing issues including the revelation of court judges acting under duress of top-court judge Hameed.
The testimonies were collected through investigations carried by authorities following Supreme Court order on February 1 demanding immediate release of nine political prisoners including former president Mohamed Nasheed.
Police media official Ahmed Shifan during an impromptu press conference on Wednesday had validated the authenticity of the documents and stressed the culprits behind the information leak would be brought to justice.
Following the revelation the outspoken advocate Suood had urged for the immediate resignation of all the court judges who worked under top-court judge Ali Hameed's instructions. Suood had explained the judges have lost their credibility and legitimacy.
Suood also assured continued efforts to ascertain Judicial Services Commission (JSC) takes relevant action against these judges.
The exposed testimonies came from Civil Court judge Mohamed Haleem who had handled several high-profile cases which includes Haveeru News dispute and Criminal Court judge Adam Arif.
According to Arif following the top-court order on February 1 the Judicial Administrator Hassan Saeed had contacted him via phone and said the top-court judges wanted to speak with him; following this the call was put on speaker-phone. Right after Hassan Saeed spoke to Arif, Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed had instructed the criminal court judge to "watch for interest of political individuals while issuing orders."
Top-court judge Ali Hameed had also instructed the release Gayoom's lawmaker son Ahmed Faris Maumoon along with the others who were jailed over their testimonies related to the Dhiggaru MP's detention. Hameed had ordered the release of MPs Abdulla Sinan and Ilham Ahmed as well.
Furthermore Arif testified that following the arrest of judicial administrator Hassan Saeed on February 4, chief justice had contacted him to clarify who had signed the arrest warrant. Arif had notified the arrest order was passed by judge Ahmed Hailam to which chief justice had ordered to revoke the order.
Following Arif's denial to comply to chief justice's order, he was threatened about possible 'disciplinary' action before ending the call.
Both chief justice and top-court judge Ali Hameed acted on their own personal interest in ordering the release of the political prisoners, according to judge Adam Arif.
Judge Haleem had testified agreeing top-court judge Hameed had instructed regarding Haveeru news case. Haleem had claimed the clause for employees of Haveeru prohibited from working elsewhere other than the outlet's official premises was added by Hameed.
According to Haleem both chief justice Saeed and judge Ali Hameed had continuously instructed him regarding ruling Progressive Party of Maldives' (PPM) issues. Haleem had also testified he issued orders according to the wishes of both Saeed and Hameed on Villa Air Private Limited case as well.
In addition to this Haleem added that he acted to the direct instructions of both chief justice Saeed and top-court judge Hameed becase they had used the pretext of president Abdulla Yameen's request and interest in said matters; to ensure gains for the government.
