Mariyam Shamma Ismail was appointed as the Consumer Ombudsman by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Tuesday, under Article 70 of the Consumer Protection Act.

The Consumer Protection Act describes the rights of consumers when purchasing goods and services and details the measures to be taken to protect these rights. The Consumer Ombudsman ordained under this Act is responsible for ensuring that businesses’ follow its provisions and is to enforce compensation to consumers when necessary.

Shamma is a lawyer with over 14 years of experience in the legal profession and public sector. She served as the Registrar of the Supreme Court from November 2008, until December 2017 and had also previously filled the position of Director of Legal and Policy Affairs at the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives. Further, she most recently served as a Legal Consultant at the Ministry of Economic Development.

Moreover, Shamma has an Advanced Diploma in Law from HELP University in Malaysia and achieved a Bachelor of Laws from the University of West of England Bristol, England, back in 2004.