Judicial Service Commission JSC decides to appoint the Chief Justice of the Criminal Court Judge Ahmed Shakeel to the High Court.
JSC said that the Committee formed to make recommendations for the High Court appointment had interviewed the eligible candidates and that it recommended Judge Shakeel's name for the High Court bench.
It further said that the Commission has decided to appoint Judge Shakeel to the High Court bench in the meeting held on the 5th of this month and that he would be officially appointed on the 13th of this month.
Judge Shakeel was first appointed as a judge back in 2003 and for the last 19 years, he has worked at Alifu Alifu Ukulhahu Magistrate Court, Juvenile Court, Family Court as well the Criminal Court.
One of his most notable cases as a Criminal Court Judge was the trial of former President Abdullah Yameen who was convicted of money laundering and accepting bribery in the sale of Vaavu Aarah late last year.
The Opposition voiced their concern over Judge Shakeel's appointment to the High Court labeling it as a promotion for the judge. In a statement, the Opposition said that JSC's decision is a grievance towards Yameen and his family.
It further said that the government's influence over the Judiciary is evident when the Judge who convicted the former President is appointed to the High Court when his defense has already appealed the case at the High Court.
