Supreme Court
Amnesty slams Maldives for lack of action on judicial reform
Amnesty International has slammed President Abdulla Yameen’s administration over its failure to address mounting concern over judicial independence.
28 Feb 2016, 9:00 AM
Criminal court chief judge transferred to family court
The judicial watchdog has approved a proposal by the Supreme Court to transfer the chief judge of the criminal court to the family court effective February 21.
15 Feb 2016, 9:00 AM
Nasheed’s terrorism appeal begins at Supreme Court
The Supreme Court began reviewing an appeal filed by the state over a controversial 13-year terror sentence against former President Mohamed Nasheed that was criticised by a UN human rights panel as illegal and politically motivated.
03 Feb 2016, 9:00 AM
Supreme Court proposes changes to new penal code
The Supreme Court has proposed amendments to the Maldives’ new penal code in the first known meeting of the multi-stakeholder judicial sector law reform committee on Sunday, according to the state broadcaster.
02 Feb 2016, 9:00 AM
Jail term for contempt of court reduced, fine hiked to MVR100,000
The Supreme Court has hiked a fine for contempt of court from MVR10,000 (US$649) to MVR100,000 (US$6485) and authorized judges to suspend lawyers found guilty of contempt of court for up to six months. Jail term for contempt of court was reduced from six months to up to one month.
02 Feb 2016, 9:00 AM
Supreme Court to validate some lower court rulings
The Supreme Court has granted itself the final word on rulings that strike down laws and regulations by announcing that such verdicts would be up for review regardless of whether the parties involved desired an appeal.
26 Jan 2016, 9:00 AM
Prominent religious scholars call for judicial reform
Citing verses of the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad’s hadith, a group of 31 prominent religious scholars have urged Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and the judicial watchdog to stem the tide of eroding public trust and confidence in the Maldivian judiciary.
26 Jan 2016, 9:00 AM
Supreme Court warns of action against judges over stalled trials
The apex court issued a circular yesterday saying that it will hear complaints from defendants and prosecutors and take action against judges if a trial has been delayed for an unreasonable amount of time. Stalled cases would then be “reassigned to another judge of the presiding court” or “reassigned to a judicial delegation chosen by the Supreme Court.”
21 Jan 2016, 9:00 AM
New court buildings require Supreme Court approval
The criminal court’s move to set up a courtroom in a police remand facility has prompted the Supreme Court to remind judges that new buildings require its’ approval.
20 Jan 2016, 9:00 AM
Judges required to seek Supreme Court approval for time off from work
“It has come to our attention that courts are not able to hold hearings as per court schedules because many judges are on leave at the same time. Henceforth, judges of any court in the Maldives are required to obtain permission from the Supreme Court to take leave from work,” the Supreme Court said.
12 Jan 2016, 9:00 AM
Nasheed lodges appeal at the Supreme Court
In a surprising U-turn, former President Mohamed Nasheed has lodged an appeal at the Supreme Court, requesting judges to overturn his 13-year jail sentence on a terrorism charge.
20 Dec 2015, 9:00 AM
Government accused of hindering Nasheed’s Supreme Court appeal
The government’s refusal to allow lawyers to handover appeal documents to Nasheed directly constitutes a breach of lawyer-client protocol, as the government may intercept legally privileged communications, lawyers have said.
19 Dec 2015, 9:00 AM
Supreme Court to consider UN ruling on Nasheed’s imprisonment
“The government has maintained the position that the opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is one that should be considered by the Supreme Court. This will now be done given that the Court has accepted the appeal already filed by the Prosecutor General, with substantive arguments to be heard at a later date,” the foreign ministry said today.
14 Dec 2015, 9:00 AM
Supreme Courts orders police investigation against ex-vice president’s lawyer
A police spokesperson confirmed that Hussain Shameem is under investigation, but declined to reveal the nature of the charges against the former deputy prosecutor general. The Department of Judicial Administration, which functions under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court, also refused to provide details.
09 Dec 2015, 9:00 AM
Lawyers fear court recess ban is aimed at sentencing Adeeb
A Supreme Court ban on courts going on recess may be aimed at expediting a terrorism trial against detained ex vice president Ahmed Adeeb, his lawyers have said.
01 Dec 2015, 9:00 AM
Ex-defence minister’s appeal postponed
A third hearing in Nazim’s appeal was scheduled for this morning after a five month hiatus, but it was called off because his lawyer is out of town.
26 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
Supreme Court to review Nasheed’s terrorism sentence
The Supreme Court has accepted the state’s appeal of former President Mohamed Nasheed’s terrorism conviction following a procedural hearing today.
25 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
Legal fiascos – why some officials are never penalized
The civil court last week ordered exorbitant compensation for two officials sacked over allegations of sexual abuse. One is a policeman, and other is a top diplomat. Why was the state unable to take action?
24 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
Police officer, accused of being accomplice to rape, compensated for dismissal
A court has ordered the police to pay more than MVR800,000 (US$56,420) in damages to an officer who was dismissed in 2010 on a charge of being an accomplice to the rape of a woman.
22 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
Lawyers of two more suspects in boat blast suspended
The Supreme Court has suspended the lawyers representing two more suspects in the September 28 explosion on President Abdulla Yameen’s speedboat.
16 Nov 2015, 9:00 AM
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