Request to probe actions of High Court judge made at JSC

A complaint was filed on Wednesday at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to investigate the actions of High Court Judge Sujau Usman.

The complaint was filed by Galolhu South MP Mikaeel Naseem.

The High Court recently dismissed Criminal Court's verdict implicating former Vice President Adeeb in the explosion that took place aboard the presidential launch in 2015, and a graft allegation involving Maabinhuraa island, ordering the Criminal Court to conduct a retrial of both cases.

In his complaint, MP Mikaeel requested to look into reports that Judge Usman was on vacation before he returned to court to pass the ruling that dismissed the Criminal Court's jail sentences against former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb. He went back on vacation after passing the landmark judgement on Adeeb's case, some news agencies reported.

In a letter sent to Supreme Court Justice Abdulla Areef, Mikaeel requested for immediate action in the case that a disciplinary issue is identified in the High Court judge's actions.

Mikaeel also filed an emergency motion at the parliament on Wednesday due to Maldives Correctional Services (MSC)'s decision to grant permission for Adeeb to travel abroad for medical purposes.

Sujau Usman was appointed as the Chief Judge of High Court after his predecessor Judge Abdulla Didi was appointed as a Supreme Court Justice. The JSC is currently investigating bribery allegations against the top court Justice while having placed him on suspension. The complaint against Judge Didi was filed at the JSC by former President Mohamed Nasheed, himself a member of the commission.

Judge Sujau Usman has passed judgement on several high profile political cases in both lower and upper courts. He was also part of the Criminal Court bench that sentenced former president Mohamed Nasheed to jail in 2015.