Abbas Shareef
{{Short description|Prosecutor General of the Maldives since 2024}}
{{distinguish|Abbas Sharif}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Abbas Shareef
| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|dv|ޢައްބާސް ޝަރީފް}}}}
| image = Abbas Shareef portrait.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Official portrait, 2023
| order = 5th
| office = Prosecutor General of the Maldives
| term_start = 18 September 2024
| president = Mohamed Muizzu
| successor =
| predecessor = Hussain Shameem
| office2 = Secretary to the President on Legal Affairs
| term_start2 = 17 November 2023
| term_end2 = 18 September 2024
| president2 = Mohamed Muizzu
| predecessor2 = Post established
| successor2 =
| office3 = Judge at the High Court of the Maldives
| term_start3 = 26 March 2011
| term_end3 = 1 October 2015
| president3 = {{ubl|Mohamed Nasheed|Mohamed Waheed Hassan|Abdulla Yameen}}
| predecessor3 =
| successor3 =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Malé, Maldives
| party = Congress
| alma_mater = University of Tasmania (LL.B)
| signature =
| website = {{URL|https://presidency.gov.mv/Government/Officials/146|The President's Office}}
}}
Abbas Shareef ({{langx|dv|ޢައްބާސް ޝަރީފް}}; born 19??) is a Maldivian lawyer who is currently serving as Prosecutor General since September 2024 and had previously served as the Secretary to the President on Legal Affairs under president Mohamed Muizzu and a Judge at the High Court of the Maldives from March 2011 to October 2015.
Early life and education
Abbas Shareef was born in Malé, Maldives. He studied Bachelor of Laws at the Australian University of Tasmania in 2000.{{cite news |last1=Hassan |first1=Ahmed |date=18 November 2023 |title=ރައީސްގެ ލީގަލް ސެކެއްޓްރީއަކަށް ކުރީގެ ފަނޑިޔާރު އައްބާސް |trans-title=Former Justice Abbas appointed President's Legal Secretary |url=https://cnm.mv/news/69840 |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=Channel News Maldives |language=dv}}
Career
Shareef was appointed a Judge at the High Court of the Maldives by then-president Mohamed Nasheed on 26 March 2011.{{cite web |title=Judges of the High Court of the Maldives through history |url=https://highcourt.gov.mv/dv/history.php |access-date=16 September 2024 |website=High Court of the Maldives |language=dv}} Prior to his appointment as a High Court judge, he held positions such as Assistant Legal Officer, Legal Officer and Assistant Director General at the President's Office. He further served as a member of the Judicial Service Commission appointed by the President, Deputy President of the Judicial Service Commission and Vice President of the Appeals Committee of the Football Association of Maldives.{{cite web |title=އަލްއުސްތާޛު ޢައްބާސް ޝަރީފް |url=https://highcourt.gov.mv/dv/history.php#arti18 |website=High Court of the Maldives |access-date=16 September 2024 |language=dv |trans-title=Mr. Abbas Shareef}} On 22 June 2015, Shareef along with Azmiralda Zahir and Shuaib Hussain Zakariyya were transferred to the southern branch of the appellate court.{{cite news |last1=Mohamed |first1=Hassan |date=22 June 2015 |title=Three High Court judges transferred to southern branch |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/three-high-court-judges-transferred-to-southern-branch-100017 |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=Minivan News}} In October 2015, Shareef retired as a High Court judge.{{cite news |date=17 September 2015 |title=High Court Judge to retire |url=https://maldivesindependent.com/politics/high-court-judge-to-retire-117513 |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=Maldives Independent}}{{cite news |date=16 September 2024 |title=PG candidate Abbas promises impartiality |url=https://en.sun.mv/91980 |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=Sun}}
Shareef was appointed as Secretary to the President on Legal Affairs on 17 November 2023.{{cite news |title=The President appoints top executives to the President’s Office |url=https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/29044 |access-date=17 November 2023 |agency=The President's Office}}
On 12 September 2024, following the resignation of Hussain Shameem, President Mohamed Muizzu submitted the name of Shareef to the People's Majlis for parliamentary approval to appoint him as the Prosecutor General of the Maldives.{{cite news |last1=Zalif |first1=Zunana |date=12 September 2024 |title=Pres. nominates Abbas Shareef for PG, sent for committee review |url=https://raajje.mv/157905 |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=Raajje TV}}{{cite news |date=12 September 2024 |title=President's nomination for PG sent to Parliament for further review |url=https://www.psmnews.mv/en/143803 |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=PSM News}} Shareef was approved by the parliament on 16 September 2024.{{cite news |last1=Mohamed |first1=Mariyath |date=16 September 2024 |title=Committee approves appointment of Abbas as Prosecutor General |url=https://edition.mv/news/36083 |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=The Edition}}{{cite news |date=16 September 2024 |title=Parliamentary Committee approves Abbas as Prosecutor General |url=https://psmnews.mv/en/144057 |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=PSM News}}{{cite news |date=16 September 2024 |title=Parliament committee approves Abbas as chief prosecutor |url=https://atolltimes.mv/post/news/9863 |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=Atoll Times}} On 18 September 2024, Abbas was appointed as the Prosecutor General by President Mohamed Muizzu.{{Cite news |last=Zalif |first=Zunana |date=18 September 2024 |title=Abbas Shareef appointed Prosecutor General |url=https://raajje.mv/158134 |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=Raajje TV}}{{Cite news |date=18 September 2024 |title=Pres Dr. Muizzu appoints Abbas Shareef as the Prosecutor General |url=https://avas.mv/en/144175 |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=Avas}}