Dheebaajaa case: company seeks out-of-court settlement

Days after the president revealed that the state was working to reach an understanding with Dheebaajaa Investments, the company is seeking an out of court settlement.

The Ministry of Economics contracted Dheebaajaa Investments to provide ferry services to four atolls in the Northern Province, during former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration in 2010. However, the agreement was annulled in 2013, during the presidency of Mohamed Waheed.

Following the annulment, Dheebaajaa headed to Civil Court who ruled for the state to pay MVR 348 million to the company.

The order was appealed at the High Court on 17th May 2015, who overturned the lower court verdict on 26th June 2018.

However, the Supreme Court upheld the Civil Court verdict on 17th April 2019.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Attorney General (AG) Office said that the company has sought to halt the case currently at Civil Court, to allow time for discussions.

It said that Dheebaajaa has asked to resolve the matter through the settlement committee established by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

According to the statement, the company had passed a resolution in the issue; Managing Director Ibrahim Rasheed, Directors Shaaheen Mohamed, Ahmed Janaah, Abdulla Javid, Mohamed Hussainfulhu and Ibrahim Muizzu are to have signed this resolution.

Further noting that Dheebaajaa Investments has asked the Civil Court to halt the hearings in the case, the AG Office said that it has obtained a copy of this letter.

The statement further said that the case has been added to the settlement committee’s agenda.

In a press conference held earlier this month, President Solih noted the hefty amount owed to Dheebaajaa Investments and said that the government is working to resolve the issue.