Villa Group takes $100 million issue to court

Villa Group has filed a case to Civil Court requesting the court to annul a notice sent by Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) to the company, to pay nearly $100 million as lease and fines to the government for islands given for resort development.

An official of Civil Court confirmed to Sun Online that the case was received by the court last week.

Chairperson of Villa Group, Jumhooree Party (JP) Leader Gasim Ibrahim said earlier following MIRA’s notice, that Villa Group “does not owe any money [to the government]”.

Minister of Tourism Ahmed Adeeb has said that about $157 million is owed to the government in total, by various groups that have defaulted on lease and fines.

Gasim met with Adeeb recently, to discuss the issue of Villa Group’s outstanding payments to the government.