Hearings to begin in Supreme Court over MP Sinan’s seat dispute

Supreme Court is set to commence hearings tomorrow in the case appealing to rule North Hithadhoo MP Ahmed Sinan has lost his seat.

The case was submitted by Qalib Saleem, claiming that MP Sinan has lost his seat due to his failure to repay a loan from the Maldives Islamic Bank as per a court ruling.

The case has been scheduled for tomorrow morning and will be heard by a five judge bench. The judges hearing the case are Judge Aisha Shujune Mohamed, Judge Ali Rasheed Hussain, Judge Dr Mohamed Ibrahim, Judge Hussain Shaheed and Judge Mohamed Saleem.

This is the first case concerning the seat of a member of the current 20th parliament that is being heard at the Supreme Court.

Article 73(c.1) of the Constitution states that a Member of the People's Majlis will be immediately disqualified if he has a decreed debt which is not being paid as provided in the judgement.