Malé, Maldives – Parliamentarians have raised concerns over the lack of security measures implemented post ratification of the sixth amendment to the Judges Act of Maldives (Act no: 13/2010).
The parliament went into a heated debate after reports were made regarding a break-in at Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan’s residence. Reports claim that the CCTV cameras at the residence were destroyed and the perpetrators had open access into the home.
Local news reports that the Chief Justice was not at home at the time of the break-in and was presiding over a Supreme Court case.
The amendments to the act were brought on after the May 6 terror attack targeting the Speaker of the Parliament and former President Mohamed Nasheed. The amendment stipulates several improvements to the security and safety of the Chief Justice, including around-the-clock security services from the Maldives National Defense Force(MNDF).
The former Defence Minister Adam Shareef and former Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz both highlighted that security must have been implemented after the acts were passed and as per the Parliament’s Committee on National Security Services (241 Committee) recommendations, after the May 6 attack.
The Chairperson of the 241 Committee Mohamed Aslam states that the police are investigating the case and security has been increased since the threat. Speaking to local news Mihaaru Aslam also said that the break-in had brought the urgency of providing secure residences for the heads of the three branches of the government.
