The Civil Court has ordered Dhuvaafaru MP Ismail Ahmed's company to settle a debt of MVR 800,000 owed to a subcontractor.
The case involved a project awarded to Ismail's company by the Education Ministry to build three classrooms in the Thaa Kadoodhoo school. The work was subcontracted to a man named Moosa Khaleel. This was seven years ago in 2018.
According to the lawsuit filed by Moosa Khaleel at the Civil Court, the work was completed at a cost of MVR 1,281,830, including the value of construction material that he purchased with his own funds. But MP Ismail only paid MVR 425,000.
The court was asked to order MP Ismail to pay the remaining MVR 856,830.
The court handed over case documents and a summons to MP Ismail as the defendant. But he failed to submit a defense within the period specified in the law.
The civil procedures law states that if a defendant fails to submit a defense within 14 days and does not attend a hearing, the court must rule in favor of the plaintiff with a judgment delivered "in absentia."
In its judgment two weeks ago, the Civil Court ordered the payment of MVR 856,830 within 15 days. As the judgment had been delivered in absentia, the defendant will have an opportunity to seek a review.
