Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath has stated he has not dealt with any matter related to India’s GMR Group since assuming office last November. The comment comes in the wake of former Deputy Attorney General and Parliamentarian-Elect Ahmed Usham's demands to clarify if Riffath had indeed counselled GMR Group to not pay taxes owed to the state. Attorney General Riffath earlier served as a member of GMR's legal team.
Responding to Usham, Attorney General Riffath said since assuming office he has not made any deliberations with regard to GMR Group. He reiterated he prioritises state interests and therefore there is no room for conflicts of interests to play out. He also reminded the administration came into power, assuring justice would be served in an open and transparent manner.
On termination of the airport development deal signed by GMR Group and the Government of Maldives, Singapore's Arbitration Court ordered to cough up USD 271 million. The amount has been paid in full by Maldivian Government.
Since then, Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has instructed the GMR Group to pay the USD 20 million it owes to the state.