The Parliament’s Judiciary Committee has voted to dismiss Criminal Court Judge Uz Hussain Faiz Rashad, concluding that there were no procedural issues with the dismissal process. The decision was reached unanimously during the committee’s meeting today.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) submitted its motion to remove Judge Uz Faiz to the Parliament on 26 July, citing constitutional and legal violations. According to the JSC, Judge Uz Faiz acted unlawfully in the detention of Ali Anwar in Seenu Hithadhoo and was found guilty of misconduct.

Ali Anwar, who was released on Judge Uz Faiz’s orders, is a suspect in a major drug smuggling case involving 70 kilogrammes of narcotics. Despite being remanded for five days in a separate case, he was subsequently released.

The JSC has filed two cases against Judge Uz Faiz, who was suspended on 23 October. The second case concerns his handling of the remand of Haleemath Lamha, who was detained pending the outcome of a murder trial.

Judge Uz Faiz has faced multiple suspensions in recent years. He received a 60-day suspension in 2021, the maximum allowable, and was previously suspended in December 2021 following an audio leak. That suspension was lifted later that month.

Under the Judges Act of the Maldives, a judge may only be dismissed if the JSC determines that the individual has committed an act deemed unfit for judicial office.