Fourteen-storey building to be constructed for the operation of five courts

The media unit of the judicial sector has said that it has been decided to construct a fourteen-storey building in Male’ for the operation of superior courts.

An official of the media unit of the judicial sector told Sun Online that the new building would be located at block 378 near Aa Sahara (new cemetery).

This location is presently used as a warehouse by State Trading Organisation (STO).

The media unit official said that phase one of efforts to design the building are ongoing, and that four groups had expressed interest to undertake project. He said that the project will be awarded within the week after the bids presented by the groups are evaluated.

The media unit has informed that Criminal Court, Civil Court, Family Court, Juvenile Court and Drug Court would be transferred to the new building.

He said that the project is estimated to cost MVR 235 million, and while that the Department of Judicial Administration had requested Finance Ministry to include this amount in the budget for this year, the amount had been removed when the budget was passed by the parliament. He said that discussions are ongoing with Finance Ministry to construct the building under contractor-finance policy.