The judicial watchdog’s former vice president and a Criminal Court judge were Tuesday appointed to the High Court bench.

Mohamed Faisal and Hussain Shaheed took the judge’s oath at a ceremony held at the Supreme Court, local media reported.

Appointment letters were handed to them by Chief Justice Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi. He replaced Abdulla Saeed, who was jailed in May and controversially removed from the position last month.

The JSC said Faisal had resigned as a commission member before his new appointment. He was the president’s pick for the JSC.

Two vacancies remain on the High Court judges’ bench even with the new hires.

Didi and Judge Abdul Ghanee Mohamed were moved to the Supreme Court following the conviction and subsequent removal of Saeed and Ali Hameed.

High Court judges receive MVR54,000 (US$3,504) in monthly wages and allowances.

Photo: Mihaaru