The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has initiated a comprehensive review of settlements granted by the now-dissolved Settlement Committee, established during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. According to Attorney General Ahmed Usham, the committee awarded settlements in excess of MVR 1 billion to 10 parties, a decision the AGO deems unjust.
The Settlement Committee, operational during Solih’s tenure, aimed to compensate for cancelled government contracts. However, with the advent of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s administration in November 2023, the committee was disbanded.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, Usham revealed that the committee awarded monetary compensation and islands for tourism ventures to 10 entities. The AGO’s scrutiny stems from concerns over the legitimacy of these settlements, particularly cases adjudged to have little merit or those where compensation exceeded advisories from the Attorney General’s Office.
To address these concerns, the AGO has formed a review team and instructed the Finance and Tourism Ministries to halt further settlement disbursements.
An assessment from the Auditor General’s Office has also been requested to evaluate the fairness of these settlements, with results anticipated shortly.