The Supreme Court has scheduled a trial date in the case filed by former President and Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP)'s founder Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom, challenging Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC)'s claim to hold him liable for debts incurred at the time of the party's dissolution.
MTCC initially filed the complaint against Maumoon as the then president of the party, to recover MVR 1.1 million owed by DRP. However, the Civil Court ruled in Maumoon's favour.
When MTCC appealed the case in the High Court, Maumoon highlighted a procedural point to determine that the case could not be proceeded with. However, the High Court ruled that the case could be continued.
Maumoon's lawyers then filed an appeal in the Supreme Court in April last year, with the trial scheduled to begin on Wednesday. The case is being heard by Judge Dr. Azmiralda Zahir, Judge Ayesha Shujune Mohamed and Judge Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim.
Maumoon refusing to pay the debt, claims the judgment came against the DRP in connection with a transaction that took place before the Political Parties Act came into force. As such, he believes the law cannot be enforced on a prior transaction.
Maumoon's legal team has also previously said in court that he was not the party's top leader when the debt was incurred. Election Commission (EC) documents also corroborate this claim.
Maumoon also argues that the company should be held responsible for ignoring the debt during DRP's dissolution process which was widely announced.
The Civil Court ruled that, based on a prior Supreme Court decision, it is not permissible to transfer debt liability to someone who was not part of the original case. Civil Court Judge Rizmeena Idrees stated that a third party can only be held liable if they have consented to the debt. Since Maumoon has denied responsibility, he cannot be held accountable, they ruled.
Maumoon left the DRP, which was the largest opposition party at the time, due to internal differences. He also led the formation of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) in 2011. However, he was expelled from the party in 2016 and formed a new party under the name Maldives Reform Movement (MRM). The Election Commission decided to dissolve DRP because it did not have the required 3,000 members to maintain the legal status of a political party.