Maanenfushi Lawyer Ahmed Shafeeq has said that the Government had varied the amount quoted to Villa Group as rent and fine amount for the island.
He made the statement speaking in the second session of the appeal hearings for the case in High Court today. Villa Group had filed the appeal in High Court following the ruling issued by Civil Court which had decreed that the temporary stay order against Tourism Ministry cannot be issued in the case.
Shafeeq stated that MaanenfushiPvt Ltd, a subsidiary company of Villa Group, had already spent MVR 10.48 million on the island. He added that the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) had sent letters to the company following the nullification of the Amended and Restated Lease Agreement. He said that the letters were sent to the company, with MIRA referring to the Initial Agreement that was signed.
Shafeeq requested in today’s hearing that the company wished to see how the fine amount was arrived at, as it had not been specified in the MIRA letters. He added that the MIRA letters quoted different figures with each letter and this was evident proof that the Government had not solid case and was merely quoting figures in a bid to destroy the reputation of the Group.
As such, Shafeeq said that the letter sent by MIRA on 26th February 2015 had quoted US$ 49.71 million, while a subsequent letter issued quoted US$ 44.7 million as rent and fine. Additionally, Shafeeq said that the case proposed by the Government had quoted US$ 61 million.
Shafeeq had denied rumors that have risen that the settlement agreement was compiled between the Government and MaanenfushiPvt Ltd based on connections with Ali Ibrahim. Shafeeq added that the Government had entered similar settlement agreements with ADK Company and in that agreement, the Supreme Court case involving Ali Ibrahim had also been quoted in the agreement.
At the conclusion of today’s hearing, the judges panel announced that this was the last hearing of the case and that in the next hearing the Court would issue the verdict.
Fine amount for Maanenfushi varies at times: Lawyers
