Two mic damage cases: MPs charged MVR 28K

The Parliament has decided to recover MVR 28,253.92 from members found responsible for damaging microphones in two separate incidents, one during a committee meeting on the media bill and another during a heated plenary session.

The first case occurred on September 15 at the Independent Institutions Committee, during a meeting to pass a controversial media bill. According to the Parliament’s Privileges and Ethics Committee, a microphone and two bases were damaged as Henveiru South MP Hussain Imran Latheef (PNC), Thoddoo MP Hussain Sameer (MDP), and Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir (MDP) grappled with the equipment while attempting to speak.

The committee determined the microphone’s value to be MVR 24,413.92, based on figures from the Parliamentary Office. The motion to charge all three MPs was proposed by Madaveli MP Mohamed Shameez (PNC) and backed by Kinbidhoo MP Ali Ashrag (PNC), with unanimous support from committee members including MP Hussain Nasih.

The second case involved damage to the microphone at the desk of PNC Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Falah during a plenary session held last Wednesday. The incident reportedly occurred during a verbal clash between Falah and Hulhumale' South MP Dr Ahmed Shamheed (MDP), following remarks by the Islamic Minister about delays in an Addu project.

Hithadhoo Central MP Ahmed Azaan Marzooq (PNC) moved to investigate both Falah and Shamheed and take appropriate action. The motion passed with support from Kinbidhoo MP Ali Ashrag, while Maavah MP Ahmed Shakir (PNC) was the sole dissenter, arguing that the Parliamentary Office had already identified the responsible party in its letter to the committee, though he did not name the individual.

The microphone in this second case was valued at MVR 3,840, bringing the total amount to be recovered from the MPs involved in both incidents to MVR 28,253.92.