The Attorney General's Office has ruled that nine of the settlement agreements where the previous government's Settlement Committee signed to give out over MVR 1 billion in funds and goods are void ab initio.
The Attorney General's Office has ruled that nine of the settlement agreements where the previous government's Settlement Committee signed to give out over MVR 1 billion in funds and goods are void ab initio.
In a statement released on Thursday, the AG Office said that the Attorney General has decided that these nine agreements do not have to be complied with, and has instructed this to relevant institutions.
The nine agreement ruled void ab initio are:
1. Leisure Beach Pvt Ltd: increasing lease of Vaavu atoll Fohtheyobodufushi
2. UMET Construction Pvt Ltd: MVR 26 million
3. Exotic Properties Pvt Ltd: Noonu atoll Ekulhivaru for 99 years
4. Dheebaja Investment: MVR 64 million
5. Amsan Food and Beverage Pvt Ltd: MVR 5.1 million
6. Slia Sands Pvt Ltd: Thaa atoll Vanbadhi, Kani and Fushi for 50 years and Alif Alif atoll Maafarufalhu
7. Blue Lagoon Investment: Alif Alif Madoogali for 50 years, and in exchange for USD 20 million, Raa atoll Vilin'gili, Raa atoll Thaavatha, Raa atoll Orimasfaru land for 50 years
8. Abdulla Ali, H. Giritherege: Haa Dhaalu atoll Hondaafushi for 50 years and cancellation of rent and fines owed for the island
9. JH Resorts Pvt Ltd: Haa Dhaalu Kuda Muraidhoo for 50 years, and cancellation of earlier due rent and fines
In addition to this, as the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee also is of the belief that the agreements are invalid from the outset, the statement says that the AG has instructed them to take measures to legally revoke the agreements and to retrieve any compensation already paid out.
The AG Office said that the settlement policies drafted then contravene the Constitution and laws, and the agreements made under this were drafted without advice of the Auditor General, and were designed to provide enrichment to particular individuals.
Hence, they said, these agreements are not legally binding and are ruled void.
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