President Dr Mohamed Muizzu appointed Abbas Shareef as the new Prosecutor General on Wednesday in a ceremony held at the President’s Office. Shareef, who had previously served as Secretary to the President on Legal Affairs, was handed his credentials by the president and took his oath of office, administered by Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan.

The appointment follows Shareef’s confirmation by Parliament during an extraordinary session on Tuesday, where he received 85 votes in favour. His nomination had been unanimously approved by the Parliament Judiciary Committee on Monday, following a vetting process in which he earned a 93.91 percent score during his interview.

Applications for the position were opened by the President’s Office on 27 August, with the deadline closing on 11 September. Shareef was among seven candidates who qualified for the post.

Hussain Shameem, the former Prosecutor General, resigned on 22 August, hours before Parliament voted to formally remove him from office.