The Judicial Service Commission has suspended Judge Hussain Faiz Rashad over the leaked audio tape in which the Judge alleges that the state had interfered and held him “hostage” to pass a guilty verdict on opposition leader former President Abdulla Yameen.
On 29th August 2021, audios of 3 of the 5 judges who presided over former President Abdulla Yameen’s trial was leaked. Following forensic analysis by the Maldives Police Service, they have managed to identify that Judge Hussain Faiz Rashad’s voice heard on the tape was authentic.
According to the Judicial Service Commission, Judge Hussian Faiz is suspended for 60 days pending further investigation.
According to the leaked audios, Judge Hussain Faiz Rashad was allegedly blackmailed into passing a guilty verdict against former President Abdulla Yameen. He also stated in the audio that he was “held hostage” when he passed the verdict. He was heard stating that ““there are many ways one can be kept hostage. Even if it is not you, say somebody close to you, like your wife can be held hostage.”.
Allegations of the state influencing the verdict against the opposition leader former President Abdulla Yameen has been made by several members of the judiciary including former High Court Chief Judge Shujau Usmaan, former Criminal Court Chief Judge Ahmed Hailam, former Criminal Court Judge Hassan Najeeb and Judge Hussian Faiz Rashad.
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Disclaimer: JSC suspends Judge Hussain Faiz Rashad over leaked audio indicating state influence on the verdict against former President Yameen. - Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Latheefarook.com point-of-view