Business Maldives employees in Hibalhidhoo being evicted

Police have decided to advance onto the island of Baa atoll Hibalhidhoo today in order to remove the Business Maldives employees residing in the island.

Business Maldives Private Limited stated that the employees in the island have been notified to depart from the island and were warned that they will be removed under a court order if they do not abide by the notice. The Maldives Police Service had also corroborated this statement.

There are two Business Maldives employees remaining in the island at present.

Police stated that attempts to remove Business Maldives employees from the island under a court order will be proceeded amicably.

A case was lodged to the Supreme Court last month to get the island back once documents of additional monetary transactions were obtained, however, the court had rejected the case.

Once exchanges were made to develop a resort in the island, Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) and the government had signed a lease agreement on August 10, 2014. Subsequently, a sales and purchase (SAP) agreement was also made between MMPRC and Business Maldives afterwards after which efforts to develop the resort was commenced with a Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and design concept completed.

However, the island was brought under police observation once weapons were found buried under the island soil during investigations into allegations of attempted murder of the then President, Abdulla Yameen following the bombing of his official launch, 'Finifenmaa". Consequently the development of the resort was also halted.

Following these events, the government had issued a notice on June 26, 2014 to annul the agreement signed with Business Maldives who were at the contracted to develop Hibalhidhoo. Business Maldives had proceeded to the court regarding the matter. However, the High Court surmised that the decision was taken rightfully, which the Supreme Court endorsed in 2021.

The main shareholder of the company, Mohamed Riyaz (Managing Director of Lets Go Maldives) stated that the Supreme Court had sided with the government over the Hibalhidhoo case because no evidence was available to prove that USD 3 million (MVR 46 million) was expended for the efforts to develop the resort in Hibalhidhoo.