Criminal justice system standstill was well thought-out: MP Nihan

Resignation of the Deputy Prosecutor General (DPG) and the subsequent halt of the criminal justice system was carried out through a well thought-out plan by the opposition, Vili-Maafannu MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik has said.

DPG Hussain Shameem executed the responsibilities of the Prosecutor General (PG) since PG Ahmed Muizzu resigned on 25 November last year. Shameem resigned around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, leaving both the PG and DPG positions vacant. Prosecutor General’s Act states that a DPG must be appointed by the PG.

“We have to find out why the Deputy PG suddenly resigned. Who encouraged him? We have to find out who made him do it, and to achieve which goal. This was planned and carried out to weaken the judiciary and to take advantage of the judiciary’s current state,” said MP Nihan, speaking on a program on Sun TV on Tuesday night.

MPs who called for a motion of no confidence against former PG Ahmed Muizzu, which led to his resignation, have to take responsibility for the current halt in the system, MP Nihan said. PG Muizzu resigned moments before the parliament was to vote on the no-confidence motion against him.

“Muizzu said, when the motion of no-confidence was being arranged, that the issue will not be resolved by sending him home. Then, suddenly we saw him forced to resign. The people who arranged the vote must take indirect responsibility for the situation today. So does parliament,” said MP Nihan, referring to MPs from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

The Criminal Court in January halted all proceedings and objected to continue court cases in the absence of a PG. Following a Supreme Court order upon the Criminal Court to continue court proceedings, Criminal Court and the Prosecutor General’s Office entered a tug of war which has persisted until today, MP Nihan said.

“According to the system, Supreme Court is the judiciary’s parent institution. The Supreme Court order in February states that the absence of a PG does not warrant a slowdown in hearings. After the order, we saw the two tugging on both sides. One side believed that it (to continue the hearings) could not continue. Our concerns today are much bigger,” MP Nihan said.

Prosecutor General’s Act states that a new person must be appointed to the Prosecutor General post within 30 days from the day the post becomes vacant. President's last nomination, prominent lawyer Maumoon Hameed, was rejected by the parliament on 14 April.

Five individuals responded to a call by the President’s Office for a new Prosecutor General for a second time on 22 April. The office is currently evaluating the applications to be forwarded to the new parliament.