Dr. Jameel: Promotion of judges presiding over Yameen’s cases linked to the judgments

The head of opposition leader, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom’s legal team, Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, on Tuesday, alleged that the promotion of judges presiding over Yameen’s cases in lower courts is linked to the judgment delivered by the particular judge.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday to brief the media on the current undertakings of Yameen’s legal team in connection to V. Aarah case – Dr. Jameel said that promotions are given to judges in accordance with the laws including Judges Act and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Act.

Therewith, he said much cannot be said on the matter in the capacity of a lawyer.

Nevertheless, he emphasized there were matters that bothered him. In this regard, he noted that many things, which a “reasonable mind” would question are coincidences or not, have taken place.

“Through a reasonable mind, there are too many coincidences with respect to Yameen’s cases and the promotion of judges. This is a huge concern. Through the mind of a reasonable person, I describe how cases, especially that of Yameen’s, have unfolded within the criminal justice system since the current administration, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration took office in 2018, as a stain on the whole criminal justice system,” he said.

Dr. Jameel said many events that have taken place were unacceptable.

Criminal Court’s Chief Judge Ahmed Shakeel, who sentenced Yameen to 11 years in prison for money laundering and bribery in Aarah case, applied to a vacant post at High Court after JSC made the vacancy announcement on January 16.

In 2019, then-Criminal Court Judge Ali Rasheed, who sentenced Yameen to prison in GA. Vodamulla case, was promoted to Supreme Court as well.

Back then also, the opposition described Ali Rasheed’s promotion as a ‘gift’ for sentencing Yameen to prison.