Supreme Court accepts case reg. legitimacy of MP Yaugoob's seat
24 ސެޕްޓެމްބަރު 2020 | ބުރާސްފަތި 12:48The legitimacy of MP Yaugoob’s seat was questioned following his appointment to the ICAM
Dhaandhoo constituency, Yaugoob Abdulla represents main ruling MDP
The Supreme Court has accepted a case lodged in connection to the legitimacy of MP for Dhaandhoo constituency, Yaugoob Abdulla’s seat.
The top court has confirmed the matter to RaajjeMV.
Mohamed Haleem, former judge of the Civil Court who lodged the case at the top court has also confirmed that the case has been accepted, via Twitter.
The former Civil Court judge requested the Supreme Court to rule that MP Yaugoob has lost his seat, following his appointment to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Maldives (ICAM).
According to Article 73(d) of the Maldives constitution, a parliamentarian shall not continue to hold office in any other office of the state except an office held by virtue of being an MP. The constitution also enlightens means through which a parliamentarian will lose his or her seat.
As such, 73(c) of the constitution states that, a person “shall be disqualified from election as a member of the People’s Majlis, or a member of the People’s Majlis immediately becomes disqualified, if they have a decreed debt which is not being paid as provided in the judgement, have been convicted of a criminal offence and is serving a sentence of more than twelve months, have been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to a term of more than twelve months, unless a period of three 22 years has elapsed since release, or pardon for the offence for which he/she was sentenced and if they are a member of the judiciary".
The legitimacy of MP Yaugoob’s seat was questioned following his appointment to the ICAM, while remaining a parliament. This is not allowed in accordance with the constitution. Following the legal questions posed, the MP resigned after a day of being appointed.
Haleem, who also served in media and as a lawyer, also submitted similar cases against two other MPs regarding the legitimacy of their seats, on a previous occasion as well. They are, main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s Parliamentary Group’s current leader Ali Azim and Kinbidhoo MP Mohamed Nashiz.
The cases remained pending for days and the top court ruled that both members had lost their seats, following them having signed on to MDP from Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP). MP Yaugoob also represents the main ruling party.
