Supreme Court hearing in Maumoon’s appeal on DRP debt liability cancelled

The hearing scheduled at the Supreme Court for Wednesday in the appeal filed by former Maldivian president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom regarding his liability for debts incurred by the now-dissolved Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has been cancelled.

A three-member bench at the top court – composed of Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir, Justice Aisha Shujoon Mohamed and Justice Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim - had been scheduled to hear the case at 09:00 am on Wednesday.

However, the hearing has been removed from the court’s daily schedule.

The case stems from a lawsuit filed by the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) to recover MVR 1.1 million in outstanding dues for services provided to DRP. Maumoon, the founding leader of DRP, was named in the lawsuit after the party was dissolved by the Elections Commission (EC) for failing to maintain the legally mandated 3,000 members.

The Civil Court had decided against MTCC in the case, ruling that Maumoon cannot be held liable for the debt. The company subsequently appealed the decision with the High Court.

Attempts by Maumoon to block the appeal failed, with the High Court deciding there is sufficient grounds to proceed with the case.

In April 2024, Maumoon appealed the High Court’s decision with the Supreme Court.

The Civil Court had ruled that Maumoon cannot be held liable for the debt, citing that a third party cannot be held liable for DRP’s debt unless they agree to take responsibility.

The former longtime Maldivian leader maintains that he does not need to bear responsibility for DRP’s financial obligations.

DRP was founded in 2005 by then-president Maumoon. However, he left the party following differences with the party’s then-leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali.

He went on to found the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) – but was kicked out from the party in 2016 following a power struggle with his brother and then-Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Maumoon then founded a third party in the name of Maldives Reform Movement (MRM).

Both DRP and MRM have been dissolved for failing to maintain the legally mandated membership figure, while the PPM is in the process of dissolution.