Justice Didi reports to work in defiance of suspension

Supreme Court Justice Abdulla Didi is reporting to work despite being placed under suspension by Judicial Service Commission(JSC).

Didi was placed under suspension following a probe into a USD 1 million bribery allegation against him filed by Speaker of Parliament, President Mohamed Nasheed.

Following JSC’s decision to suspend him on June 12, Didi filed a motion with the Supreme Court citing violation of due process by JSC in making the decision. The Supreme Court issued an injunction, asking JSC and other State agencies to refrain from executing the suspension until the court issues a decision regarding the case.

JSC held an emergency meeting following Supreme Court’s injunction and decided it will not accept the injunction.

The contradicting stands by JSC and Supreme Court created the question as to whether the suspension will be executed or not.

While the issue remains unresolved, Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing in a trial presided over by Didi for Monday, providing evidence Didi continues to work at the court despite his suspension.

Didi is accused of receiving USD 1 million in bribe money via a deposit to his spouse, Aniya Abdul Gafoor’s bank account in 2015.

Didi had been serving at the Criminal Court at the time, and had been serving on the bench of judges which sentenced Nasheed to 13 years in prison – a sentence which has since been overturned. It is believed that Didi is accused of taking bribe money to influence the court decision in the case.