Criminal court judge cleared of misconduct

The judicial watchdog has lifted the suspension of Criminal Court Judge Ahmed Rasheed after nearly one year, Mihaaru reported Friday.

The Judicial Service Commission decided last week that there was not enough evidence to prove allegations of ethical misconduct and instructed the judge to return to work on Sunday, according to the newspaper, which also revealed that Rasheed was placed under investigation over a row with the then-Chief Judge Adam Arif.

Rasheed was formerly a member of the JSC – a 10-member oversight body – as the representatives of licensed lawyers.

He was appointed to the bench in early 2015.

His suspension in August last year followed a shuffle of the Criminal Court bench amid the prosecution of several opposition lawmakers.

In early July 2017, the JSC abruptly transferred the Criminal Court’s former chief judge, Abdul Bari Yousuf, to the Juvenile Court and Judge Ahmed Shakeel to the Family court. The transfers were made at the request of the Supreme Court.

Opposition figures alleged that it was prompted by the pair’s decision to throw out bribery charges raised against Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim.

Adam Arif, a former public prosecutor who was involved in the prosecution of former president Mohamed Nasheed and former defence minister Mohamed Nazim, was appointed to the Criminal Court in April last year.

Arif was put in charge of the court as acting chief judge after Bari’s demotion.