High Court rejects Nasheed’s appeal over DRP's MVR 4M debt

The High Court has rejected an appeal filed by Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP)’s former leader Mohamed Nasheed (Colonel Nasheed), challenging a ruling by the Civil Court that holds him personally liable for an MVR 4.04 million debt owed by the now-dissolved party.

The ruling, issued by the Civil Court in February, was appealed by Nasheed with the High Court.

However, the court’s registrar decided on Sunday to reject the case, citing that Nasheed has the option of contesting the ruling with the Civil Court itself as it was issued in his absence.

The MVR 4.04 million in question was owed by DRP to two video production companies owned by former Kudahuvadhoo MP Ahmed Amir, which provided videography and editing services, as well as equipment between 2007 and 2009.

Nasheed was not the leader of DRP at the time.

Though Amir had claimed another MVR 16.3 million in fines over the outstanding payments, the High Court had ruled that only the original service fees should be paid.

This decision was appealed with the Supreme Court, but the DRP had been dissolved before the court made a decision for failing to meet the minimum political party membership requirement.

The DRP had millions of Rufiyaa in debt when it got dissolved. The Elections Commission decided that the party’s leader at the time of dissolution must be liable for the debt.

Nasheed, who was leader of DRP when it got dissolved, did not attend the Civil Court when it held him liable for the MVR 4.04 million debt. Nasheed was ordered to settle the debt within two weeks.