MTCC withdraws case seeking to hold Maumoon responsible for DRP debt

Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has withdrawn the case they submitted seeking to hold former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom responsible for the debt of Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP).

DRP failed to settle MVR 1.1 million owed for services from MTCC in 2007. When the party was later dissolved, MTCC filed a case against then President of DRP Gayoom, seeking to hold him responsible for this debt.

Civil Court, however, ruled that Gayoom cannot be held responsible for this debt. MTCC then appealed this ruling at the High Court, but later withdrew the case in February.

High Court yesterday cancelled the case.

An MTCC official said that the decision to withdraw the appeal case had been made as the company's legal advisors maintained that the lower court's ruling is correct.

They said that it is the Elections Commission that must now indicate a course of action for MTCC, and determine how such cases must be proceeded.

When MTCC appealed the case at the High Court, Gayoom, too, raised a procedural point and called on the Court to rule that the case cannot be proceeded. However, the High Court rejected this and decided to proceed with the case at the time.

Hence, Gayoom appealed this decision of the High Court at the Supreme Court. Although hearings in the case were scheduled last January, it was later cancelled on request of MTCC. Now, with MTCC having withdrawn the case at the High Court, the case at Supreme Court will also no longer need to be proceeded.