MP Isse alleges judgment delivered for political purpose as he seeks its revocation

Dhuvaafaru MP Ahmed Ismail (Isse) has alleged that the Civil Court judgment ordering him an MVR 856,830.19 debt was delivered for the purpose of pressuring him politically, adding that the judgment has appealed, seeking its revocation.

The Civil Court issued the ruling last month, in response to a lawsuit filed by Moosa Khaleel, a subcontractor from R. Kandholhudhoo – Isse’s home island.

The lawsuit pertains to a subcontract to build three classrooms in Th. Kandoodhoo, under a 2018 agreement signed between Isse and the Education Ministry.

The subcontractor, using his own equipment and material, claimed to have carried out MVR 1,281,830.91 worth of work on the project.

However, he claimed he was paid just MVR 425,000, and was not paid the rest.

The Civil Court found on February 29 that Isse failed to pay the subcontractor as agreed, and ordered the lawmaker to settle MVR 856,830.19 in 15 days.

Isse failed to prepare a defense within the legally mandated timeframe, henceforth, the ruling was issued in his absentia.

In a statement released regarding the judgment – Isse stressed that the judgment in the case was delivered in a manner he was deprived of the opportunity to respond to the claims. He also said the subcontractor filed the case with the Civil Court in 2020, during which the court decided that the alleged debt had not been proven.

He further said that all payments owed to the subcontractor, for all the work he carried out until 2019, was paid before the subcontract was nullified over the failure of the subcontractor to carrying out the work in accordance with the contract.

Isse said the judgment in the initial case established that he had paid all monies due to the subcontractor in light of all evidence submitted in the case.

Citing the judgment in the initial case had not been appealed by the subcontractor – he described it as final judgment.

He emphasized that the court, while there was a final judgment, reviewing a case between two parties that pertained to the same issue is a clear violation under the legal principle of res judicata.

Isse alleged that the Civil Court judgment, ordering him to settle a huge payment despite this, was delivered to achieve a political purpose.

He added that the case was heard by the Civil Court by abusing systemic power in order to impose political pressure upon him.