President of the 'Deaths and Disappearances' Investigative Commission, Mr. Husnu Al Suood said that there is collusion between local gangs and the judges of Criminal Court.

Speaking at a press briefing regarding the progress of the 'Deaths and Disappearances' Investigations, former Attorney General Husnu Suood said that it is an issue of the Criminal Court that those under investigation on major charges such as that of murder, terrorism or gang violence have been exonerated through court proceedings. He also said that the closing of these cases lead to negative consequences later on.

Suood said that he believes that local gangs collude with administrative staff and judges of the Maldives Criminal Court to influence cases involving homicides and that these cases therefore end, unable to prove criminal activity. He also claimed that gangs have gained major influence over court proceedings and that these gangs have also exerted power over the appointment of judges to cases.

The President of the commission said that the gangs have exerted pressure over certain judges of the Criminal Court and that they have also influenced witnesses that have been appointed to give testimony. He further stated that Criminal Courts have also carried out various misconducts regarding the duration of prison sentences, where certain cases that needed set duration were not assigned duration and vice versa.

"Those who have been tried in cases involving murder and gang violence have been released. These cases have gone without a conviction due to some collaboration with both judges and administrative staff of the Criminal Court. Gangs have also tampered with witness testimony at court as well as appointed judges to cases and have wielded influence over these judges" Suood said.

The former Attorney General has also said that while judges have benefited from personal security offered by the gangs, there are also coalitions and agreements of peace established within local gangs. In addition, Suood said gangs have also gained access to the information concerning secret witnesses in such cases and been able to see and identify these witnesses.

Suood further claims "Some gangs have been assigned a 'quota' when it comes to appointing certain judges to the Criminal Court. Certain gangs get certain 'quotas'. The judges nominated by these gangs will be appointed to the Criminal Court. These are things that have happened" . He said, that no matter how well cases have been investigated, he does not believe that justice will be served under the current appointments of judges at Criminal Court.