Category: News in Brief

Civil Court upholds Malaysian arbitration ruling

The Maldives Civil Court has ordered the implementation of a ruling by an international arbitration tribunal.

Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur Regional Center for Arbitration  ruled that a Maldivian company Gasveli Island Private Ltd must pay US$445,216.66 to International Construction Consortium.

The ruiling marks the first time a Maldivian court has ordered the implementation of an international arbitration verdict.

The Civil Court has ruled the Maldivian company must pay the amount to the court within three months. The ruling was issued in the absence of Gasveli.

Chief Judge Ali Rasheed Hussain said that, while the law is unclear on which court a complainant must ask for implementation of the arbitral award, regulations compiled by the High Court say the Civil Court can take up such cases.

The regulation states that the Civil Court can use procedures in place for for implementing arbitration awards.

The Maldivian government is currently awaiting the outcome of an arbitration process in Singapore over its abrupt decision to terminate an airport development contract with Indian infrastructure giant GMR.

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Journalists permitted to report from inside the Majlis

Journalists will be allowed to enter the People’s Majlis with laptops, phones, and recorders in order to provide updates live, the parliament secretariat has said.

Previously, journalists were only allowed pen and paper inside the viewing gallery.

However, reporters will not be allowed to take photographs.

New outlets will have to apply for a permit to report live from the Majlis. The decision was made by outgoing Speaker Abdulla Shahid.

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Only one qualified candidate in call for 27 magistrates

The Judicial Services Commission called for 27 magistrates in March, but said only one of the 12 applicants qualified for the magistrate position

Ahmed Saeed Ali of Noonu Atoll Fohdhoo Island took his oath of office today and has been appointed as the magistrate of Noonu Atoll Velidhoo Island Court.

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Criminal Court releases two individuals arrested on murder

The Criminal Court has released two individuals arrested over the murder of a man on Gaaf Dhaal Atoll Thinadhoo Island.

The police have appealed the ruling at the High Court.

Ali Rasheed ‘Alibe,’ 79, was found murdered in his home on April 4. Six men were arrested in connection to the death.

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Man handed six-month jail term for breaking house arrest

A man serving a three year four months house arrest sentence has been handed a six-month jail term on Tuesday for breaking his house arrest.

Mohamed Shiham of Felidhoo House in Gaaf Dhaal atoll Gahdhoo Island was sentenced to house arrest in August 2010, but left his house before the end of his sentence in April 2013.

He confessed to the offense at the Criminal Court.

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Sun Shiyam’s bag was searched in absentia, witnesses admit in alcohol trial

Tourism tycoon and MP ‘Sun Travel’ Ahmed Shiyam’s bags were searched in his absence, state prosecutors have told the Criminal Court on Monday (May 26).

Shiyam is being charged with smuggling alcohol and possessing alcohol after a liquor bottle was found in his luggage at the airport in March 2012.

But Shiyam’s lawyer Ali Shah claimed the MP was being framed. Witnesses presented by the state admitted the luggage was with another individual when it was unlocked.

Witnesses also said they did not question Shiyam about the find at the time.

The case has garnered controversy after Criminal Court Judge Abdulla Mohamed took over the case from Judge Ahmed Sameer following a complaint by Shiyam in which he said Judge Aziz’s “hand gestures and facial expressions” indicated a personal grudge against him which could lead to an unfair trial.

The penalty for alcohol possession in the penal code is either a fine of between MVR1,000 to MVR3,000 or imprisonment, banishment or house arrest for up to three years.

Under article 73 of the constitution, an MP convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to more than one year in prison will lose his or her seat in parliament.

The MP for Dhaal Meedhoo is the leader of Maldives Development Alliance – which has 7,537 registered members and three MPs – and is founder of the Sun Travel and Tours company.

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JP nominees for political appointees unqualified, says President Yameen

Jumhooree Party (JP) has failed to gain allocated seats in political positions because nominees put forth by the party are unqualified, President Abdulla Yameen has said.

“The privatization board dismissed nominees put forth by Gasim because they are unqualified,” Yameen told the press at the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport yesterday evening.

JP Leader Gasim Ibrahim had claimed Yameen’s Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) had breached the ruling coalition agreement’s by refusing to give the party a 35 percent stake in political appointees.

Gasim’s comments came in response to the PPM executive council’s warning on Monday night that the coalition would dissolve if he stood for the position of People’s Majlis Speaker. The PPM would consider such a move to be a breach of the agreement, the party said.

But Gasim accused PPM of breaching the agreement first, claiming the JP had received only 34 seats of the 300 political appointees. He has also refused to retract his decision to contest for the position of Majlis Speaker.

Yameen said it was important for a PPM MP to be elected to the position: “The speakership is very important to the ruling party. Then only can we do what we want to do with ease.”

“Gasim does not trust us. That is why he is standing despite us nominating someone else,” he said.

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Coach labels players “heroes” after dramatic cup knock-out

Maldives coach Drago Mamic has described his players as “heroes” after their dramatic extra-time defeat in yesterday’s AFC Challenge Cup semi-final.

“I told the players after the game that they are my heroes and I am proud of them and the whole country must be proud for what these boys showed today,” said Maldives coach Drago Mamic.

The Maldives exited the tournament after having fallen behind twice to the Philippines n the match before levelling the score. A third comeback proved too much for the team, however, after Chris Greatwich put the Philippines ahead once more in the 104th minute.

“Both teams should have won today if this can exist in the rules,” said Mamic. “But unfortunately the rules are very clear that who scores more goals will be the winner and that is why this time the Philippines scored three and we scored two and my congratulations to the Philippines as they scored more goals.”

The Phillipines will go onto play Palestine in Friday’s final after beating Afghanistan 2-0 in the day’s early kick-off. The winner will go on to appear in next year’s Asian Cup in Australia.

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Supreme Court issues child support regulations

The Supreme Court has issued a ruling on child support on Tuesday to standardise expenses obtained by the judiciary for childcare support.

The apex court said parents must pay at least MVR2000 if child support is being provided for one child under 18 years of age. The amount includes MVR1000 for expenses for a child and an additional MVR1000 to support the guardian of the child.

If a parent has to provide support to more than one child, they must pay at least MVR1000 for each child.

Furthermore, the parent has to provide at least MVR1000 to support the parent or guardian of the children, even in cases where a parent has to support children from multiple partners.

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