The owner of Newport View located in the bridge view platform area, has been ordered to hand the plot over to the government along with a fine of MVR 1.1 million.

Opened on 6 February with a 500-person capacity, Newport is run by former council member of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Zahid Rameez’s spouse Malaka Abdul Hakeem.

With a monthly rent of MVR 100,000, the 10,000 square-foot property was leased for eight years to Strada Private Limited during the administration of Abdulla Yameen, in 2016.

The company was ordered to vacate the property after having failed to pay the monthly rent for three months, in March.

In April, the government filed suit against Strada to recover the lease payments and vacate the property at the Civil Court.

While Strada owed MVR 1,149,271 in lease and fines to the Ministry of National Planning and Infrastructure, the company had also filed a case against the state, seeking compensation for the government’s order to vacate its property.

In 2015, the corruption watchdog investigated Strada after it was given a catering project for the official Independence Day banquet in 2015, despite not having experience for such a major event.

The waterfront restaurant’s former Managing Director Rameez faces various allegations including death threats made against murdered blogger Yameen Rasheed.