City Council orders Maumoon to hand over his family home within 30 days

Malé City Council has ordered former President Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom to hand over Kinbigasdhoshuge, his private property, to the Council in 30 days. Ahmed Samah, Deputy Mayor of the Council, said that the Council decision had already been communicated to Maumoon via a letter, in which Maumoon was ordered to hand over the property to the Council.

Samah said that the decision to compulsorily acquire Kinbigasdhoshuge for the government was made for the reason that the property was being used as a rented warehouse which caused traffic problems, and development of Malé. “It is a bandaara property, but no one lives there, and it is being used as a warehouse, for business purposes. Traffic problems are common because of that, and the location needs development, although the warehouses have been an obstacle to development. It is necessary to acquire the property to achieve this goal”, Samah said. He did not comment on the fact that many such private properties in various similar locations in Malé have been rented and used as warehouses, as it is a lawful right given to landowners under Maldivian laws.

“I signed the letter, and it has informed Maumoon that the Council would take control of the property after 30 days. We believe that Maumoon would have received the letter today”, said Samah yesterday. He said that Maumoon had not given any response to the letter. He said that Kinbigasdhoshuge being a bandaara property, there were no legal obstacles to enforce the Council decision.

A statement issued by the Council yesterday said that its decision was taken under the authority conferred by Article 41(L) of the Decentralisation Act, which said that the Council could acquire property belonging to private individuals for public good where it is necessary, in accordance with the law after awarding fair and appropriate compensation. When asked how the Council would award Maumoon fair and appropriate compensation, Samah said that it would be done by the Court. “We are planning on the acquisition. Valuation of the property and awarding the compensation would be done by the Court”, Samah said.

Article 40(b) of the Maldives Constitution says that “private property shall be inviolable, and may only be compulsorily acquired by the State for the public good, as expressly prescribed by law, and as authorised by order of the court. Fair and adequate compensation shall be paid in all cases, as determined by the court.”

Sun has tried to contact several family members of Maumoon, but none of them has so far been available. However, Maumoon’s family has been seeking legal aid as to the next step following the Council decision.

Meanwhile, Prosecutor General’s Office said, in a statement published yesterday, that the decision of Malé City Council to compulsorily acquire the private property of the former President Maumoon for the government was a “very irresponsible” move. PG Office statement said that no person’s property can be acquired by the government without the person’s permission unless under a court order to that effect.

Malé City Council decided by unanimous agreement of Councilors present, to compulsorily acquire Kinbigasdhoshuge, a private residential property belonging to former President Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom, in an impromptu meeting of the Council today, on a red carpet on the street outside the People’s Majlis. The decision was made amid protests around the Majlis building, in a session where the only two Councilors representing the opposition DRP were absent, and only Councilors belonging to the ruling MDP were present at the meeting. Many have said that the decision was a political attack on Maumoon, who according to the government has been secretly egging the opposition DRP’s Z Faction to disrupt the People’s Majlis sittings in protest of the Ruling Maldivian Democratic Party’s “illegal and compulsive” control over the legislature.