The Parliament during its final session of the third term has approved to appoint former Deputy Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem as the new Prosecutor General.
Shameem was approved for appointment with the agreement of all 74 members who took part in the vote on Saturday.
The post of Prosecutor General became vacant when former Prosecutor General Aishath Bisham resigned amid a no confidence motion being pursued by the parliament.
Three individuals applied for the post when the President's Office opened for submission last week.
Hussain Shameem, who did important work when the Prosecutor General's office was first established, was nominated for the post by President Ibrahim Mohamed Soloih. After assessing the nomination, the parliament's judiciary committee also recommended to appoint Shameem to the post.
The other applicants were Nihayath who resigned as deputy Prosecutor General earlier this year, and lawyer Ahmed Zaneen Adam.
Shameem is a prominent lawyer who has defended high-profile politicians in courts, including former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom and his son, Faris Maumoon. During the time, he was suspended from practicing law on three different occasions.
Shameem will become the fourth Prosecutor General to be appointed in the country's history. The first PG was attorney Ahmed Muizzu, who was succeeded by Muthuthaz Muhusin. Bisham was the third PG.
Both Muizzu and Bisham resigned from their posts amid impeachment motions being pursued by the parliament. Muhuthaz lost his post when the parliament passed a no confidence motion against him.
