The Civil Court yesterday banished the lease holder of Gaaf Alif Funadhoo for two months and 15 days for non-payment of rent for the island leased for agriculture.
The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) had sought execution of a previous Civil Court judgment ordering Ahmed Abdul Azeez, of Galolhu Aima, to pay outstanding rent and fines worth MVR1.7 million (US$110,246). The court had also ordered that Azeez be placed under house arrest for a month.
As MIRA had sought execution of the judgment for a second time due to non-payment, the court noted in the verdict (Dhivehi) that banishment was stipulated by the regulations for such cases of decreed debt.
However, according to local media, banishment sentences are no longer enforced.
MIRA has reportedly filed cases seeking MVR41.7 million (US$2.7 million) in unpaid taxes.
