ACC investigation into Azmiralda, Mahaz and Suood sees no movement despite year‑long delay

The lawyer representing former Supreme Court Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir says the Anti‑Corruption Commission (ACC) has yet to share any information on the criminal investigation launched against her more than a year ago.

Dr. Azmiralda’s lawyer, Ibrahim Shameel, who also serves as Vice President of the Bar Council, told Sun that there has been no progress in the case since the ACC first announced it was investigating three Supreme Court judges.

The ACC and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) initiated action on February 26 last year, after the ACC said it was investigating a criminal case involving Justice Husnu Al Suood. The JSC suspended three judges, Suood, Azmiralda and Mahaz Ali Zahir, on the same day.

Suood later resigned, while Parliament dismissed Azmiralda and Mahaz on May 14, a move critics said was carried out without giving them adequate opportunity to respond.

Although the ACC has repeatedly stated that it is investigating the case, it has not disclosed any details of the allegations. Shameel said the commission has not provided any updates since its initial announcement.

Sun has asked the ACC to clarify the nature of the allegations against the three judges, the reason for withholding information for more than a year, and the cause of the delay in the investigation, to no avail.

The JSC forwarded the judges’ statements to the ACC more than six months after the investigation began.

Azmiralda, Mahaz and Suood were suspended at a time when the Supreme Court was preparing to hear a case challenging the constitutional amendment that would strip MPs of their seats if they switch parties. The timing of the suspensions drew criticism towards both the ACC and the JSC.

The JSC, which has a majority aligned with the government, subsequently dismissed two of the judges citing the ACC investigation.

An ACC investigation remains ongoing.