Civil Court orders halt on appointing new Assistant Commissioner of Prisons

Civil Court has ordered a halt on appointing a new Assistant Commissioner of Prisons at Maldives Correctional Service.

ACP Mohamed Asif was dismissed from the post last Wednesday after eight months of suspension following allegations of corruption. Asif was accused of depositing over MVR 200,000 from Prisons' Club account to various personal accounts.

Asif appealed to the Civil Court to issue an interim order to halt appointing a person to the post until the court reaches a decision in a case he is submitting appealing the decision to dismiss him.

The current Civil Procedure Act allows for an interim order to be requested before a case is lodged.

On Thursday, the court issued an interim order prohibiting any permanent appointment to the position and halting any measures that could confer rights to a third party.

The order goes on to state that a case against Corrections in this case must be lodged before August 17. If such a case is not submitted, then the interim order will cease to be in effect. However, if a case is submitted before this deadline, then the interim order will be in effect until the case is concluded.