The High Court has overturned its earlier decision to reject the case against former Vice President Abdulla Jihad, now agreeing to hear it.
Jihad, currently serving as the Chairperson of the Maldives International Financial Service Authority (MIFSA), faces charges related to the signing of the Fushidhiggaru Falhu agreement in 2013 during his tenure as Minister of Finance. The agreement involved a joint venture with a foreign company to develop Fushidhiggaru Falhu, granting the government only a 25% stake—contrary to official advice.
Previously, the Criminal Court dismissed the case, citing investigative errors. In response, the Prosecutor General’s Office appealed the decision at the High Court, arguing that the lower court’s ruling lacked clear reasoning and requesting a retrial.
The High Court initially dismissed the appeal, citing an inability to summon Jihad due to an unclear address provided by the Prosecutor General’s Office. The court allowed the prosecution to refile the case once Jihad’s location was confirmed. However, when the case was refiled on October 15, it was rejected by the High Court registrar for missing the October 12 deadline. The High Court upheld this decision, refusing to proceed with the case.
Last Thursday, a three-judge bench of the High Court reversed this stance, accepting the case. The decision was based on the State’s explanation that the delay in resubmission was due to Jihad being abroad, making it impossible to summon him during the allotted time. The court deemed this an unavoidable circumstance, warranting the case’s acceptance.
Meanwhile, the State had already appealed the High Court’s earlier rejection of the case to the Supreme Court.
