The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has begun investigating an ethical issue concerning suspended Supreme Court Justices Husnu Al Suood and Azmiralda Zahir.

According to information received by "One", JSC has started investigating Suood's case in relation to a matter of summoning someone to the Supreme Court and questions Suood directed during a court hearing about a year ago.

While it has been confirmed that JSC is also investigating Azmiralda's case, it has not been confirmed what specific issue her case is related to. It is known that the ethical issues of Suood and Azmiralda are not related to their suspension.

Justice Husnu Al Suood and Justice Azmiraldha Zahir, who are part of the seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court, along with Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir, have been suspended today. In relation to this, JSC has stated that these judges were suspended in connection with a case being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

In a press release issued today, ACC stated that if a complaint is submitted to the commission alleging an act of corruption as defined in the ACC law, it is a legal responsibility and duty of the commission to investigate such cases without exempting any party.

"We assure the beloved people of Maldives that we will conduct investigations into cases submitted to this commission without yielding to any influence and without bias towards any party," the ACC statement said.

ACC said it ensures that such cases are investigated within the powers vested in the commission by the laws and regulations included in the criminal justice system.

While three Supreme Court judges have been suspended, the court has been hearing a constitutional case submitted to invalidate the amendment to the Constitution that allows for the removal of a member of parliament and loss of seat if they change parties.

Ali Hussain, former MP for Kendhoo constituency and a lawyer, submitted a constitutional case to the Supreme Court to invalidate the amendment, claiming it is unconstitutional. He submitted the case to the Supreme Court on November 24 last year. The Supreme Court accepted the case on the 27th of that month.

Ali Hussain has also requested yesterday for an order prohibiting any action against members until the Supreme Court decides on the case. The Supreme Court had scheduled the hearing for the temporary order for 11 AM today.

JSC suspended the judges just as the hearing for this case was about to begin. The hearing was later cancelled.

While these three judges have been suspended, the bill submitted to the People's Majlis to reduce the number of Supreme Court judges has been passed by the Majlis today.