Civil Court has ruled that former Kaashidhoo MP and businessman Abdulla Jabir is the rightful owner of Athama Plaza, a property he says he purchased 16 years ago.
The 10-storey building, measuring 7,700 square feet, is currently registered in the name of Ismail Abdul Latheef, owner of Malisha Hajj Group. In 2019, Ismail was sentenced to eight years in prison for fraud after taking money from multiple individuals for Hajj trips that were never arranged.
The court had previously ordered the sale of Athama Plaza to settle a separate debt owed by Ismail, and the property was opened for auction.
Jabir has maintained that he paid MVR 14 million for the property in 2010. However, the title was never transferred to his name. His permanent address had previously been listed as the fourth floor of Athama Plaza.
In 2017, Ismail filed a lawsuit at the Civil Court to complete the sale, but later withdrew the case while it was still pending.
Jabir subsequently filed his own suit in 2021, alleging that Ismail had failed to transfer ownership in breach of their agreement.
In its ruling issued Sunday, the Civil Court found that under the sale agreement between the two parties, Jabir has the legal right to have the property transferred to his name. The court said no competing claim overrides that right.
The judgment orders Ismail to complete the legal procedures required to transfer ownership of the property and its fixtures to Jabir within two months.
The ruling also notes that Jabir’s lawyer had sought MVR 16 million in damages.
The dispute had previously led to police intervention. Officers entered Athama Plaza and handed control of the property to Ismail after he sought police assistance, claiming he had been denied access. At the time, the court ordered that police would not be held liable for any damage resulting from the entry, unless it was carried out peacefully.
