Criminal Court Chief Judge Ahmed Hailam has apologised to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed and the people of Maldives over posting a controversial Victory Day greeting in a Viber group. The illustration shows President Solih and Speaker Nasheed in chains with the perpetrators of the November 3, 1988 coup attempt.
A statement issued by Hailam said the illustration was shared in the group after seeing the main perpetrator Abdulla Luthufee in the photo without properly checking the overall content. The statement further said he was not sure if the president and the speaker were in the photo and he did not consider anyone would have used their photos in such an illustration.
Hailam has been in the headlines and received severe criticisms after the photo was leaked in the media, although the photo was shared on a Criminal Court staff private group. Many raised concerns as the photo was shared on social media and the photo was used to express greetings on the occasion of Victory Day.
In the statement, Hailam also responded to criticisms from the parliament and political figures accusing him of taking bribes on the case he is currently investigating. He said although the accusations by the parliamentarians is an act of influencing his decisions, he has never used his position to gain undue benefits to himself or another. He also pledged to the people to stay firm without being corrupt.
JSC has suspended him during the probe into the case.