Gayoom’s children pay MVR2m debt

The four children of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom have settled an MVR2.1 million (US$136,186) debt in accordance with a two-year-old civil court judgment. 

Faris, Ghassan, Yumna and Dunya Maumoon were ordered by the court in late 2017 to make the outstanding payment to Rasheed Carpentry and Construction  (RCC), a company with links to the family of former defence minister Mohamed Nazim.

The payment was made after the High Court rejected an appeal of the lower court decision when lawyers representing Ghassan reportedly failed to show up for a hearing last week.

The candidacies of Faris and Ghassan for the upcoming parliamentary elections were in doubt due to the unpaid debt. The parliamentary election law requires candidates not to have a decreed debt.

The Gayoom brothers are contesting the April 6 polls on opposite sides.

Faris, MP for the Dhiggaru constituency, is running for the Mahchangolhi North seat in the capital Malé as a candidate of the ‘Maumoon Reform Movement’ of his father. 

His younger brother is contesting as a candidate of the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives led by former president Abdulla Yameen, half-brother to Gayoom.

Ghassan sided with his uncle Yameen in the dispute for the PPM’s leadership that led to Gayoom joining forces with the opposition in 2017.

Earlier this month, Gayoom endorsed a rival candidate running against Ghassan for the Thaa Guraidhoo constituency.

According to media reports, the MVR2.1 million debt was incurred as outstanding fees owed to the construction company for a house built in Malé that was registered under the joint ownership of the four siblings.

A source close to the family told Sun that the siblings are planning to file an appeal again. The payment was made because they were “disciplined” and since it was in their best interest at present.