Presidential speedboat blast: compensation amount sought for Moosa Zameer, who was dismissed from MNDF post
The incident occurred in late September 2015
The explosion aboard the Presidential speedboat during former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration
The High Court has referred the case of Moosa Zameer, who was dismissed from his position at Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) in connection with the explosion aboard the Presidential speedboat during former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration, back to the Civil Court to determine the compensation amount.
The incident occurred in late September 2015, when two military personnel, Zameer and Ahmed Tihaam, were accused of boarding the speedboat and removing evidence without authorization.
They were subsequently dismissed from their positions.
The Criminal Court also sentenced them to four months and 24 days in prison in connection with the case.
However, upon appeal, the High Court overturned Zameer's prison sentence back in 2019.
Zameer then filed a case at the Civil Court seeking reinstatement to his military position and MVR one million in compensation.
However, the Civil Court ruled that Zameer's dismissal was in accordance with the military disciplinary regulations and that there was no basis to order his reinstatement.
Further, court also stated that the military law does not require reinstatement of personnel dismissed due to a court verdict, even if that verdict is later overturned, and therefore compensation could not be given.
The case was then appealed at the High Court.
After reviewing the case, the High Court has ordered the Civil Court to determine the appropriate amount of compensation for Moosa Zameer.
The High Court's ruling states that Zameer does not need to be reinstated to his military position.
The verdict goes on to note that the most just solution in the case is to provide compensation in lieu of job reinstatement.
The explosion occurred on 28 September 2015, as the former first couple were returning to capital Malé city after concluding their Hajj pilgrimage. The incident left the former first lady injured. Yameen later claimed that it was an assassination attempt by his then-Vice President, Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor.
