Hulhumalé South MP Ahmed Shamheed could face disqualification from Parliament after the Civil Court ordered him and several other defendants to repay more than USD 281,000 (approximately MVR 4.3 million) owed to Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB).

The ruling, issued on Tuesday, November 10, stems from a lawsuit filed by MIB over the failure to repay a USD 500,000 financing facility provided by the bank.

The case was brought against two companies and several individuals connected to the financing arrangement, including Shamheed.

According to the court's judgment, the defendants have been ordered to pay a total of USD 281,474.28, comprising USD 244,826.52 in outstanding principal and USD 36,647.76 in additional charges.

The Civil Court determined that the outstanding amount constituted a legally proven debt and ruled that all defendants, including Shamheed, were jointly and severally liable for repayment.

This means the bank can seek recovery of the outstanding amount from the defendants in accordance with the judgment, rather than each defendant being responsible only for a separately allocated portion.

Constitutional Provision Raises Questions Over Parliamentary Membership

The ruling has raised concerns about Shamheed's eligibility to continue serving in the People's Majlis.

Under Article 73(n)(1) of the Maldivian Constitution, a member of Parliament may lose their seat if they fail to settle a proven debt in accordance with a court order.

Although the Civil Court ruling does not automatically mean Shamheed has lost his parliamentary membership, failure to comply with the repayment order could trigger constitutional consequences.

If the outstanding amount remains unpaid after the deadline specified by the court, Shamheed could face proceedings concerning his eligibility to remain in Parliament.

Ruling Comes Amid MDP Presidential Primary Campaign

The court decision comes at a politically significant time for Shamheed, who has announced his intention to contest the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s presidential primary.

Shamheed is currently campaigning for the party's presidential nomination, making the court ruling a potentially significant development for his political future.

The possibility of losing his parliamentary seat could also create uncertainty surrounding his political activities if the debt remains unsettled.

Similar Case Previously Resulted in MP Losing Seat

The situation bears similarities to the case involving former Hithadhoo North MP Mohamed Sinan, who lost his parliamentary membership earlier during the current 20th Parliament following a dispute over an unpaid bank loan.

Sinan was among several individuals held responsible for a financing facility of approximately MVR 3.8 million obtained from Maldives Islamic Bank.

The case also involved Ahmed Waheed and Mohamed Saleem, both from S. Hithadhoo.

In April, the Supreme Court determined that Sinan had a legally established debt and had failed to demonstrate that it had been settled in accordance with the relevant court judgment.

Consequently, the court ruled that Sinan no longer satisfied the constitutional requirements for parliamentary membership, resulting in the loss of his seat.

A subsequent by-election for the Hithadhoo North constituency was won by former Addu City Mayor Abdulla Sodiq, commonly known as Sobe, who contested on the MDP ticket.

Sodiq defeated Ahmed Saeed, also known as Soda, who represented the ruling People's National Congress (PNC).

Shamheed's Parliamentary Future Depends on Compliance With Court Order

The Civil Court's latest ruling places Shamheed under a legal obligation, alongside the other defendants, to settle the outstanding amount within the court-prescribed period.

While the judgment establishes liability for the debt, any consequences for his parliamentary membership will depend on whether the repayment order is complied with and how the relevant constitutional provisions are applied.

The case is likely to attract further political attention given Shamheed's position as an opposition lawmaker and his recently announced presidential ambitions within the MDP.