Supreme Court of Maldives has accepted the request from President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to review the verdict over Dheebaja case following public concern.
The case was submitted for review by the Attorney General's Office on January 22. Attorney General (AG) Ibrahim Riffath had earlier stated the decision was made after President Solih said there is public concern regarding the verdict. The parliament had also decided to counsel the AG to request a review of the verdict after withholding compensation amounts of USD 11.28 million. The decision was made with 65 parliamentarians voting in favour.
Dheebaja was contracted to provide ferry services in the Northern Province in 2011 during the administration of former President Mohamed Nasheed. However, the contracted was terminated during former President Mohamed Waheed Hassan's presidency. Dheebaja filed a lawsuit and won the case against the state, with Civil Court ordering a compensation amount of USD 22.56 million.
The settlement committee formulated by President Solih decided to settle the case outside the court and agreed a compensation amount of USD 11.28 million, instead of the USD 22.56 million ordered by the Civil Court. Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer has said no compensation amounts have yet been paid to Dheebaja.