Supreme Court of the Maldives has said that the foreign consultant who came by an invitation of the Attorney General, Ibrahim Riffath had told justices to resign before they were ousted.

In a press statement issued by the Supreme Court, they noted that while works on reforming the judiciary were ongoing, the Attorney General's Office had sought the help of a foreign consultant to conduct an assessment on the Maldivian judiciary. As such, a South African national was invited to help with the matter, in a bid to reform the judiciary.

The statement added that, upon a request by the AG Office, the Supreme Court justices had met with Retired Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa Johann Kriegler, on May 29. In the said meeting, details were shared about the situation of the judiciary, and the works that were being initiated by the Supreme Court to reform the judiciary along with the assistance of the Maldivian state. As such, details of the action plan to reform the judiciary were also shared with Retired Justice Kriegler.

The Supreme Court noted that after they had shared all these information in good faith, Retired Justice Kriegler had completely disregarded all of it. The court claimed that Retired Justice Kriegler had revealed that there was a plan to oust the justices and that it was better to resign peacefully before they were ousted with force.

The statement further revealed that he had claimed that justices will be replaced even if it meant revising the necessary laws, and that currently there was a face-off between the judiciary and the political figures in the country. The court alleged that he had said that the judiciary will be one to suffer great losses in said face-off. The court further stressed that he had clearly threatened the justices by stating that he will recommend to replace all of them in his report.

The Supreme Court highlighted that any foreign consultant who comes to asses or assist any institution in their works to reform the judiciary should only provide educated recommendations that are free from any influence and are completely professional.