Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has suspended salaries of two Judges, who are in custody on terrorism charges.
In this regard, JSC suspended the salaries of Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed. Both judges have been in suspension from their roles in the Supreme Court, in accordance with an amendment brought to Judges Act of Maldives.
A person who has been convicted of a criminal offense shall not be appointed as a Judge and if a criminal charge has been made against a sitting judge, JSC shall place the judge under a suspension without pay, until a final decision has been made by the final Court of Appeal, according to the fifth amendment brought to Judges Act.
Furthermore, it states the appeal period for a verdict delivered by a lower court, regarding a criminal charge against a judge, will be 10 days and the High Court has a period of 30 days to deliver a verdict.
In addition, the appeal period for a verdict delivered by High Court, regarding a criminal charge against a judge, will be 10 days and the Supreme Court has a period of 30 days to deliver a verdict and if the Supreme Court decides to convict the judge on criminal charges, the judge shall be automatically removed from his position, according to the amendment.
Supreme Court Judges Abdulla Saeed and Ali Hameed, who were arrested in relation to the ongoing investigations on the attempted judicial coup, are charged with terrorism charges, obstruction of justice, accepting bribery and obstruction of government duties.