Civil Court orders former STO employee to repay MVR 770,000

Civil Court has ordered a former State Trading Organization (STO) employee to pay more than MVR 770,000 in compensation after failing to complete a sponsored study programme abroad and resigning before the expiry of his bond.

STO filed a civil suit claiming the employee, who was enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Nutrition course under the company’s sponsorship in 2010, did not finish his studies and breached the agreement by leaving his job during the bond period.

The employee did not respond to the charges, and the ruling was delivered in absentia.

The court order states that the STO had spent MVR 770,311 on the programme up to December last year and that the employee is liable to pay the amount to the company. 

The court ordered that the amount be paid to STO within 14 days.