Ministry of Finance Violates High Court Ruling With MVR 10 Million Advance Payment To MP Rasheed’s Company

It has come to light that the Ministry of Finance had made an advance payment of MVR 10 million to Donbez Ptd Ltd, in contravention of a High Court ruling to suspend all proceedings regarding the tender under dispute until the conclusion of the case.

Although the lowest bid had been placed by SJ Construction Company, the government had contracted a bidder that had placed a higher bid. The National Tender Board had concluded that the contract had been granted because that company had the financial wherewithal and the a workforce who fulfill the qualification requirements. The tender had been awarded to Donbez Ptd Ltd.

SJ Construction had taken the case to the independent Review Committee; formed through the Public Finance Act; which had concluded that the company did indeed have the financial and human resources necessary for the project, and that the company should be included in the tender. The Tender Committee had not acted on that decision, and had reiterated their stance regarding SJ Construction.

The Civil Court had ruled that it could not be accepted that the Tender Board had acted on the Review Committee's decision. The Court had also noted that the letter submitted as evidence by the State had also not been signed.

The Civil Court ruled that SJ Construction fulfilled the requirements for the tender, and had ruled that the Finance Ministry re-evaluate the tender. The Court had given the Ministry of Finance until 22 January 2022.

The Civil Court had ruled to suspend the tender until the conclusion of the dispute. The ruling had been appealed to the High Court, which upheld the Civil Court ruling.

Despite the High Court’s ruling, the Ministry of Finance had made an advance payment to Donbez Ptd Ltd, a company owned by MP Mohamed Rasheed (MDP-North Fuvahmulah).