High Court has dismissed an appeal filed by Parliament Secretariat Bureau Chief and former MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik after he reached a settlement and paid nearly MVR 1 million owed to State Trading Organization (STO).

In December 2019, the Civil Court ordered Nihan to pay MVR 959,362 to STO for defaulting on rent and maintenance fees after leasing a harbour food court for five years. The ruling, issued in Nihan’s absence, included a penalty for non-payment.

Nihan appealed the decision at the High Court, arguing that the judgment was issued without his presence. However, High Court dismissed the case earlier this month after Nihan requested to withdraw the appeal.

According to a dismissal form issued by the High Court, Nihan submitted a letter on July 7 stating that he had signed a settlement agreement with STO and had paid the money.

Speaking to Mihaaru News, Nihan said that a separate out-of-court agreement had been signed with STO and the required amount had been settled directly, prompting the withdrawal of the appeal.