Opposition MPs object to provision for foreign judges on proposed mercantile court
10 Oct 2011, 4:23 PM
Opposition MPs today strongly objected to a provision for foreign judges in a bill proposed by the government to establish a mercantile court with special jurisdiction to resolve disputes involving business transactions in the Maldives.
Under the proposed legislation, an experienced Muslim foreigner may be appointed among the seven-judge bench for the court, which will have jurisdiction to handle cases relating to transactions concerning tourism, construction, international business, insurance, civil aviation, maritime, shipping, leasing, banking and finance, securities, fishing, company disputes, partnership, professional liability and intellectual property rights.
The mercantile court will also handle contract, trade and service provision, consumer and service recipient protection in cases worth more than Rf15 million (US$1 million).
During today’s preliminary debate on the bill, opposition MPs raised concern that allowing a foreign judge to sit on a Maldivian court would threaten the country’s independence.
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