Anwar claimed that a doubt over the vacancy of Kaashidhoo MP Ismail Abdul Hameed's seat was cast when he was handed a Criminal Court sentence of banishment for one year and six months. The Supreme Court at first rejected the case stating that no documents had been submitted which proved that any doubt existed about the seat's vacancy. The court yesterday rejected the case stating that the Elections Commission (EC) is looking into the matter. "Such a case can only be considered by the court only if a relevant authority determines the vacancy of a parliament seat. Thus this case cannot be allowed in court," the court stated. Criminal Court on August 29 sentenced MP Abdul Hameed to one and a half years banishment for misusing his authority to commit an act of corruption. The case filed by the state said when Hameed was the Director of Male Municipality he had used the power of his position to commit an act of corruption in the deal made to buy a barge for the Waste Management Unit. The sate claimed that he had confirmed the barge had been received while it was not and made the remaining 50 percent of the payment to the company. Article 73(c3) of the constitution states that a member of the parliament immediately becomes disqualified if he has been convicted of a criminal offence and is serving a sentence of more than 12 months.