Civil Court has ordered the state to pay MVR 58 million to Dheebaajaa Investments, in three days.

The court made the ruling on Tuesday.

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, over allegations of contractual violations.

Following the annulment, Dheebaajaa headed to Civil Court seeking seeking MVR 348 million in compensation; the court had ruled in the company's favour.

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.

The court had, at the previous hearing, ruled for the state to pay half of the original amount; MVR 116 million.

At the hearing on Tuesday, Dheebaajaa’s Chairman Ibrahim Rasheed said that this has led to an increase in the company’s debt and issues from shareholders.

Hence, the company requested the court to order the state to pay half of the MVR 116 million, MVR 58 million, in 48 hours.

Economic Ministry’s attorney noted that the requested period is too short to pay such a hefty sum. While Chairman Rasheed had agreed to extend it to seven days, the state attorney had sought to increase it to 30.

However, Rasheed denied this and said that he sees no point in giving the state any additional time.

Noting that both parties have not been able to come to an agreement in the case, the court ordered the state to pay the MVR 58 million in three days. The presiding judge added that the required action will be taken, if the state does not follow through.