Civil Court has dismissed former Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim’s case seeking compensation for the loss of his seat.

Nazim lost his seat in 2015 after Supreme Court found him guilty of defrauding the state of MVR 1.4 million (USD 91,400) by submitting bids on behalf of non-existent companies, and sentenced him to 25 years in prison.

Nazim was granted medical leave and traveled to Singapore on December 11, 2015 and had been living in self-exile until December, last year, when Supreme Court overturned his conviction.

In February, Nazim filed a case at the Civil Court seeking compensation totaling the amount he lost in salary, benefits, and pension during the time he was removed from parliament.

The Civil Court registrar dismissed the case, stating that it is not in the court’s jurisdiction to give compensation over a verdict issued by a superior court. Civil Court’s chief judge has backed the registrar’s decision.

Faris was elected Dhiggaru MP in the by-election after Nazim’s removal and Nazim is now running for re-election for the Dhiggaru seat in the parliamentary election on April 6.