U.S Department of State - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013 for Maldives

U.S Department of State - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013 for Maldives

Most significant human rights problems included charges of Supreme Court interference to subvert the presidential elections process and corruption of officials in all branches of government.

Judiciary was not independent and impartial and was subject to influence and corruption. There were instances in which the outcome of cases appeared predetermined, such as the repeated intervention by the Supreme Court in the presidential elections. This included the Supreme Court’s direct acceptance of cases about the elections without allowing lower courts to hear them first. There were numerous allegations of bribery and abuse of power within the judiciary. Both government loyalists and opposition members accused the judiciary of being biased and having its own political agenda. A number of judges were known to base their rulings on cash rewards, and there were reports that lawyers occasionally built the cost of bribes into their fees. The public generally distrusted the judiciary.

http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2013&dlid=220399