Parliament's Judiciary Committee to visit Tax Appeal Tribunal regarding complaints

The parliament's judiciary committee has decided to pay a visit to the Tax Appeal Tribunal as part of its investigation of a complaint filed by a private party.

So far, the committee has held its investigations relating to the tribunal under wraps with meetings being closed off to the public. This includes its most recent meeting where Registrar Abdulla Hilmee was summoned for questioning to clarify aspects of the case.

During the committee's meeting today, MP of Fuvahmulah constituency Ali Fazaad said that in light of the complaints by the tribunal's members and the comments made by Registrar Hilmee, the members need to be summoned to the committee.

Kurendhoo constituency's MP and ruling party People's National Congress (PNC) member Shamin Habeeb supported the proposal and added that the tribunal's situation was made very clear by the registrar. As such, he suggested that the committee visit the tribunal instead.

MP of South Hithadhoo constituency Ibrahim Nazil said that it would be best to summon the tribunal's president and vice president to the committee separately as well as the three members on another date given the nature of the situation.

He said that this would be in the best interests of everyone.

The committee approved all these motions at today's meeting, and members have decided to visit the tribunal to assess the situation stating that the matter can be assessed more thoroughly with a visit.