The Civil Court on Wednesday ordered the government to handover Hibalhidhoo island in Baa Atoll to a local company formerly owned by a primary suspect in the blast aboard the presidential speedboat in September 2014.
Business Maldives has faced many allegations in the past, and Mohamed Allam Latheef (Moho) who remains at large after fleeing the country shortly after the boat blast was a shareholder of the local firm.
A large weapons cache was found in the island that was being developed as a tourist resort as the security forces intensified the search weapons after the blast. Weapons were found on the island while it was in the care of the company before.
The island was handed back to the company regarding a case was filed in court after the government had seized control of the island upon discovery of the weapons.
Business Maldives is under the ownership of a man named Mohamed Riyaz and his wife. Riyaz has 95% of the shares of the company, while Moho had received his shares from the company for the development of the island.
However, Riyaz took the case of Moho's shares to court regarding his treason to the country, and has won back the shares.
The Civil Court had ruled that the notice sent by the government to Business Maldives upon seizing the island was in violation of the contract, and ordered the government to hand the island back to the company within 30 days.
Former Vice President Ahmed Adheeb is being charged alongside Moho for the weapons found on the island. While Adheeb's trial has begun, Moho's trial has not started due to his absence from the country.
