State re-files case over controversial harbour development project

Deputy Attorney General Ahmed Usham said his office had sought an injunction over the project initiated by Male city council to develop the Male west harbour area. The case was filed under the procedures for fast track claims. The state had in January filed a case in Civil Court in a bid to prevent the council from continuing the bidding process of the project. A similar injunction was sought at the time as well. The hearing on Sunday was scheduled for 3pm but it is believed that the state attorney had arrived 10 minutes late, prompting the judge to dismiss the case after the defence raised a procedural point. City council had leased the west harbour area to a little-known private company, West Gate, for 25 years for MVR400,000 per month. The case was dismissed after the Civil Court and the AG office had exchanged heated blows over the delay in the proceedings. AG office maintains that incompetence of the court had stalled the trial whilst the court had issued a statement countering the claims. It has been known that the case had stalled over the AG office's failure to produce a document asked by the court. Meanwhile, the city council had told reporters that both the housing ministry and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had approved the decision. However, both the ministry and the commission had denied the council's claims.
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