Justice Abdul Rauf Returns to High Court as Two Judges Sworn In

Former High Court judge Abdul Rauf Ibrahim has been reappointed to the High Court, filling one of two vacancies on the bench.

Rauf was sworn in alongside Criminal Court judge Ismail Shafeeu, who has also been appointed as a High Court judge. The appointments were made by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) last week. 

At the same ceremony, the JSC appointed Ahmed Niaz, chief magistrate of the Kalaidhoo Magistrate Court, to the Criminal Court. All three judges were sworn in by Justice Abdullah Hameed at an event held at the Supreme Court on Sunday evening.

pic.twitter.com/ttcW4g53Gl— Supreme Court of the Maldives (@SCMaldives) February 7, 2026

The two High Court posts attracted 19 applicants, according to JSC. The vacancies arose following the retirement of the court’s longest-serving judge, Mohammed Niaz, and the resignation of Mohammed Faisal amid a JSC investigation.

Rauf had resigned from the High Court in May 2022 after the JSC referred his case to the People’s Majlis for possible dismissal over a flat he accepted during the administration of former president Abdullah Yameen.

In 2019, Rauf was put forward for appointment to the Supreme Court by then president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, but the JSC was examining matters concerning him at the time. He later resigned from the commission to contest the vacancy. The JSC subsequently advised against his appointment.

After leaving the High Court, Rauf entered politics and contested the Keyodhoo constituency seat on the ticket of the People’s National Congress, but was unsuccessful.