High Court overturns two more lower court rulings in favor of Villa

High Court has overturned two more lower court rulings made in favor of Villa Shipping – owned by Leader of Jumhoory Party (JP), Qasim Ibrahim.

High Court, on Tuesday, overturned Civil Court’s ruling in 2015 that government repossessed the K. Bolidhuffaru lagoon and the K. Vaavedhifalhu lagoon from Villa Shipping unlawfully.

State prosecution had appealed both the Civil Court verdicts.

Both the lagoons were awarded to Villa in exchange for the USD 9.7 million in damages Supreme Court ordered the State to pay to Qasim’s brother – Ali Ibrahim from A. Dh. Fenfushi – after it was ruled the land he was awarded from L. Kadhdhoo to build a tourist hotel was repossessed by the State in violation of the contract made between the two parties.

After State repossessed the land awarded to Ali Ibrahim from L. Kadhdhoo, both parties came to an agreement that the USD 9.7 million in damages would be forgone in exchange for tax exemptions to Villa Air, and Villa resorts, as well as L Bolidhuffaru lagoon and K. Vaavedhifalhu lagoon.

Ali Ibrahim had later transferred ownership of the two lagoons to Villa Shipping.

State has appealed multiple such rulings made in favor of Villa by lower courts.