Malé, Maldives – The Supreme Court of Maldives has ordered the reinstating of an officer of Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), who was removed from office seven years ago.
Abdul Muiz Mustafa, who was serving MNDF in the capacity of Captain at the time, was removed from the institution in 2013, with accusations against him of carrying out activities which caused rifts within MNDF, in collaboration with MNDF Brigadier General Abdullah Shamaal, who now serves as the Chief of Defense Force.
Both Shamaal and Muiz were removed from office at the time. However, Shamaal was reinstated in 2018 with a High Court verdict, as was appointed as the Chief of Defense Force.
Muiz filed a case with the Civil Court regarding his dismissal in 2014. However, in 2016 the court ruled against him, which he then appealed at the High Court, also to receive the same ruling in 2018.
However, the Supreme Court overturned the verdicts, and ordered Muiz to be awarded employment in the institution at the same capacity as he was. All three judges presiding over the case also agreed that he has the right to file a separate case to claim losses suffered due to his dismissal.
Although the state maintained that Muiz’s dismissal was rightful during the hearings at the Civil and High Courts, this stance changed during the Supreme Court Hearings, and accepted wrongful termination, as well as stated that one year’s salary and allowances should be granted to Muiz instead of the same for his ensure duration of unemployment.
The case was presided over by Chief Justice Ahmed Mu-uthasim Adnan, along with Justice Mahaaz Ali Zahir, and Justice Ali Rasheed.
