Criminal procedure fairness guaranteed to citizens only if JSC is independent: MP Abbas

Member of Parliament for the Velidhoo constituency Mohamed Abbas said today that the fairness of the criminal procedure can be fully guaranteed to the Maldivian people only if the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is freed from political influence and the courts are made independent. Speaking during the debate on the bill submitted by the government, through Member of Parliament for the Funadhoo constituency Mohamed Mamdhooh, to bring amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, Abbas said the amendments proposed to that law are very important and useful matters. However, he noted that as long as the courts are not completely safe from political influence, the benefit of this will not reach the people in the most desirable way. Noting that there has never been a time when the Judicial Service Commission existed other than under the power of the government of the day, Abbas said that in connection with the amendments submitted to the Criminal Procedure Code, in the 19th Majlis that ended and in previous parliaments as well, members had shown two-faced talk. "Is there ever a time when the Judicial Service Commission has existed without being under the power of the government of the day, honourable President? For every amendment submitted to the Majlis on the criminal procedure code, in the 19th Majlis that ended and in the parliaments that went before as well, one honourable member speaks in two ways," Abbas said. In that regard, he said that some individuals who made different statements regarding that law under former President Abdulla Yameen's government are now, after the government changed, speaking in another way, and that the truth of these matters will be very clear to the people. In addition, recalling how matters unfolded recently regarding two judges of the Supreme Court, Abbas said that over a matter for which there was no visible evidence, two educated, capable and honest judges were removed from their posts within 10 or 15 minutes. He said that this was done by the current 20th Majlis, and that members who practically took part in it should be ashamed to speak about the criminal procedure code, and that it was a disaster inflicted on the Maldivian people. "The two judges of the Supreme Court, the highest court of the Maldives, recently, over a matter for which there is no visible evidence, action was taken within about 10 or 15 minutes. Honest, young, educated and capable two honourable judges were removed within a fraction of a second," Abbas said. Noting that it was done by the current 20th Majlis, Abbas said that members who did that should be ashamed to open their mouths and speak about the criminal procedure law today. He criticised that every leader who comes to power also says during the campaign that they will free the legal sector and will not lay hands on the courts, but that once power is obtained, what is seen is a scene completely contrary to that. He also described such acts as a betrayal of the national flag.