Lawyer Husnu Suood has stated that his client, Moosa Latheef, former editor at the now defunct "Haveeru", did not have a work contract with "Haveeru". Moosa Latheef had served as editor for years at "Haveeru".
Three of the seven former employees at "Haveeru" had submitted their contracts as part of their defense in the case. The case was filed in High Court by former employees of Haveeru, after Civil Court issued a ruling against the former employees.
The appeal was filed on behalf of the 33 employees of Haveeru. Some of the individuals who had filed the case had withdrawn their suit. Current editor of Mihaaru Ismail Naseer, Haveeru news editor Moosa Latheef, employees Rif'ath Mohamed, Ahmed Abdullah Saeed, Ahmed Hamdhoon, Abdul Rasheed Hussain and Niumathullah Idhrees had not withdrawn their case.
Chief Judge Abdullah Didi had questioned on the rest of the contracts, to which Husnu Suood responded that agreements were made only with three of the respondents. The rest of the respondents had worked on a verbal agreement, adding that he had no inclination why documentation was not drawn up.
Suood said that the registered editor for the paper was Moosa Laheef, adding that he had worked as Editor for years.
The three shareholders of "Haveeru", Ibrahim Rasheed Moosa, Abdullah Farooq and Mohamed Naeem's lawyer Abdul Naseer Mohamed said the Employment Act clearly stipulates that the employer and employee must enter into a written contract. The lawyer previously said that without contracts there was no way of ascertaining if the defense were employed in "Haveeru" and in what capacity and this was why they had requested for contracts.
The Judge today questioned whether the Civil Court ruling will be applicable for any employees who had worked without a contract. Lawyer Naseer refuted that.
Suood said that the individuals who had appealed their case were no longer with "Haveeru" Media Group, and that the paper was run under the Group.
Naseer said the Civil Court ruling did not call to cease "Haveeru" operations but that "Haveeru" was halted as the employees and "Haveeru" owner Mohamed Zahir Hussain conspired to take over the rights of 75 percent of shareholders.
Husnu Suood is also the lawyer for Zahir Hussain. Speaking on his behalf, Suood said while the case was ongoing in Civil Court, the Court had attempted to conduct an audit to determine what the shareholders were entitled to. He added that the Civil Court decree was issued not on Zahir but on the employees, adding that the case was filed against Zahir.
Suood said that if an audit was conducted, they will be extremely clear on what the shareholders were entitled to.
Legal representation for the three shareholders said that 75 percent of "Haveeru" and its ventures were property of those shareholders. He added that while the employees who appealed the case had full rights to press the case, they also had the right to be employed. He also said that the Constitution gave the rights to transactions, business and protection from revoking property. He said these rights were fully granted to the shareholders and as such offered them protection when their rights were breached.
The Civil Court verdict said that any Haveeru employee working in another media for a two-year period was illegal and if such a case was submitted by majority shareholders to either Home Ministry or Broadcasting Commission, the case had to be reviewed within a period of seven days.
Husnu Suood today called for an expedited verdict on the case. The next hearing of the case will be held after review of the agreement. Lawyer Naseer was given copies of the contract today.
