Maldives: Now there is none

Court loses last female judge:

Civil Court judge Mariyam Nihayath resigned last Thursday months after she was suspended by the country’s judicial watchdog over a complaint.

Judicial Service Commission (JSC) suspended Nihayath on August 17 after a complaint was filed claiming that she had continued proceedings in a case that had been rejected after the plaintiff had failed to show up in court.

Haveeru understands that Nihayath had sent her letter of resignation to the JSC Wednesday (December 23, 2015). She, however, reportedly did not mention the reason.

With Nihayath’s resignation, Civil Court no longer has any female judges on its bench.

Judge Aisha Shujoon Mohamed handed in her resignation in December 2014 after an investigation was launched by the judicial watchdog.

The resignation came after JSC opened an investigation to look into any possible misconduct, after she revealed in an interview to state television channel, Television Maldives that she had once been offered a bribe of USD 5 million.The Maldives only allows female judges to preside over civil cases.

-Haveeru