Civil Court threatens penalties, says AG does not have authority over court verdicts

Civil Court has said that the Attorney General does not have the authority to declare court verdicts invalid, and instruct parties not to enforce them.

Attorney General’s Office had released a statement saying that the two-year ban issued against former employees of “Haveeru” was invalid.

Civil Court responded to the statement, and informed Attorney General Mohamed Anil on Monday that he does not have the authority to declare a court verdict invalid and instruct authorities not to enforce it.

Civil Court noted that efforts that lead to displeasure among the people regarding court verdicts and disobedience needed to be stopped.

They said that it was stated in Article 121 of Maldivian Constitution that no authority, other than courts had the authority to stop a court order from being enforced. And that the ban could only be stopped from being enforced if it was overturned upon appeal by a higher court.

They said the verdict against “Haveeru” employees “should not be any different”.

“The Maldivian Attorney General or Attorney General’s Office does not have the authority to declare court verdicts invalid,” said Civil Court.

Civil Court said that anyone, no matter if it was the Attorney General would be brought to court and penalized if he exuded influence over any court verdict.