Lawyers have revealed that MP for North Hithadhoo constituency Mohamed Sinan who represents the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) in parliament, paid off the debt proven against him on the day a case seeking to declare his seat vacant was filed at the Supreme Court.

The lawyers made these remarks during hearing held in connection with the case, on Wednesday.

The case was submitted to the court on 13 February 2025. The case, which was filed by Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB) at the Hithadhoo Magistrate Court, has been proven against MP Sinan. In addition to him, the case is also against Ahmed Waheed of S. Hithadhoo, Vaadhooge, and Mohamed Saleem of the same island.

The Supreme Court accepted the case during March.

The case, submitted to the Supreme Court by Ghalib Saleem, concerns a Sales and Leaseback Financing Facility of MVR 3,802,863.32, that Mohamed Sinan of S. Hithadhoo, Member of Parliament for North Hithadhoo constituency, along with other parties, obtained from Maldives Islamic Bank. As they failed to make payments according to the agreement with the bank, MIB filed a case at the Addu Atoll Hithadhoo Magistrate Court on 21 July 2024. The court, after reviewing the case, on 14 October 2024 ordered that the proven amount due to the Islamic Bank at that time, MVR 2,520,222.98 be paid within six months, with monthly payments not less than the amount due for each month. The case was filed claiming that payments were not made to the bank as per the judgment.

The case proven against Sinan involves the non-payment of a loan taken jointly by him, Ahmed Waheed, and Mohamed Saleem from S. Hithadhoo.

During the hearing held on Wednesday when the Supreme Court began proceedings on the case, Ghalib's side noted that the Islamic Bank filed the case with the Hithadhoo Magistrate Court when Sinan failed to pay the MVR 2.5 million loan he took with additional parties.

The court ruled in Sinan's absence last October, ordering him to pay within six months. The judgment also stipulated that he must pay no less than the amount due for each month. However, as Sinan did not continue paying according to the judgment, the bank filed an enforcement case with the court last December.

Therefore, for failing to pay as per the agreement, the court has ordered to pay off the money to MIB by paying no less than the amount due for each month within six months from the day of the judgment, including the charity accruing.

The Magistrate Court's judgment also states that if the payment is not made as per the judgment, MIB will have the power to enforce the matters in the mortgage agreements related to Sinan's boat and Saleem's plot of land and the buildings on it, which were mortgaged in connection with the facility, and to recover all the money due for the facility.

As revealed in Wednesday's hearing at the Supreme Court in connection with the case, the money was paid off entirely on the same day, February 13, when the case was filed seeking to declare his seat vacant.

Therefore, it has been decided not to proceed with the case filed with the Hithadhoo Court to enforce the judgment.

Ibrahim Shiyam, the lawyer for Ghalib Saleem who filed the case at the Supreme Court, said on Wednesday that it is clear that the debt has not been paid according to the judgment, as the judgment states that a certain amount must be paid each month within six months. He noted that even after three months since the judgment, the money was not paid.

In Wednesday’s hearing, which was also the first hearing in the case, Sinan's lawyer Moosa Ali said that the Hithadhoo Magistrate Court made the judgment in Sinan's absence after the lawyer appointed by Sinan for the case had informed that he could not attend.

Sinan's lawyer said that MP Sinan was not even aware that a judgment had been made at that time. He said that the lawmaker learned about the judgment only when an enforcement case was later filed with the court and registered.

He also stated that the money has now been voluntarily paid and settled. He argued that the money was paid before the six-month period expired, and therefore, the payment was made in accordance with the judgment.

After hearing both parties' statements, the court said that if there was nothing else to clarify, the next hearing would be held to deliver the verdict.

The case faced delays following the abrupt suspension of three Supreme Court justices. Among them, Justice Husnu Al Suood later resigned, while Justices Azmiralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir were formally dismissed. In their place, former High Court Chief Judge Hussain Shaheed, along with Judges Mohamed Saleem and Abdulla Hameed, have been appointed to the bench.

At Wednesday’s Supreme Court hearing, MP Sinan was granted until next Thursday to submit details of how his debt was settled. Presiding Justice Aisha Shujoon Mohamed stated that if further clarification on the submitted documents is required, an additional hearing will be scheduled.

The case regarding Sinan's seat at the Supreme Court is being heard by Judge Shujoon, Judge Ali Rasheed Hussain, Judge Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, Judge Hussain Shaheed, and Judge Mohamed Saleem.