Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) on Tuesday filed lawsuits against two companies under the embattled Villa Group umbrella to recover USD37.5 million in overdue rent and fines.
MIRA is seeking USD18.9 million from Villa Hotels and Resorts and USD18.6 million from Villa Shipping and Trading Company over three separate islands and lagoons leased for tourism development.
High Court meanwhile overturned two separate lower court rulings to uphold the government seizure of two islands and a lagoon leased for tourism to Villa Group owned by opposition Jumhoory Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim.
In the first appeal, the appellate court had overturned the civil court ruling ordering the government to honour the amended and restated agreement signed between the Tourism Ministry and Villa Holidays in December 2013 for the lease of Kaaf Atoll Maadhiggaru lagoon.
In a separate case, the High Court had also overturned the civil court ruling ordering the government to honour the amended and restated agreement signed between the Tourism Ministry and Villa Holidays in December 2013 for the lease of Gaaf Dhaal Atoll Gazeera island and Raa Atoll Maanenfushi island.
Villa Group's accounts had been frozen after the company failed to pay the government after the designated period.
Gasim himself since signing a historic treaty with fellow opposition leaders is facing charges over allegations of attempting to bribe fellow lawmakers and making incitements to overthrow the government.
He continues to be in remand after losing the appeal earlier Tuesday.
The opposition coalition, which now JP is a part of, has claimed that the government is descending into autocracy and has been heavily critical of its “crackdown” on the opposition.
