Ashfaq ordered to pay outstanding debt of MVR 400,000

Maldivian football legend Ali Ashfaq (Dhagandey) was ordered by the Civil Court yesterday to pay the outstanding MVR 400,000 of his MVR 1.4 million debt within six months.

Ashfaq was sentenced in August 2015 by the Civil Court after UMET Construction charged Ali Ashfaq and VB Sports over failing to pay the company MVR 1.4 million as part of Ashfaq and VB Mart's agreement with UMET Construction in the repair of two floors in a building owned by Ali Ashfaq. The Civil Court had sentenced Ashfaq and VB Sports to pay the sum within six months.

Ashfaq's lawyer appealed the Civil Court's ruling at High Court, with only VB Sports having to be charged in the acquisition of compensation. However, the High Court defended the Civil Court's ruling in October 2017, after it was determined that Ashfaq cannot be absolved of his responsibility under the agreement.

Nevertheless, as the debt was not paid even after the High Court's sentencing, UMET Construction filed a case to the Civil Court for the enforcement of the sentence. When this case was submitted to the court, Ashfaq had already paid MVR 1 million out of the MVR 1.4 million. VB Sports had not contributed to any of the payment.

Ashfaq was the only one to attend the trial in this case. During the trial, Ashfaq said that he will pay the rest of the debt and requested a period of six months to pay the remaining debt.

But, UMET Construction requested that the trial makes it so that Ashfaq has to pay back everything that is owed as soon as possible, even if he has to sell his property.

Upon checking Ashfaq's financial status, it was determined at trial that he had the financial capability to pay off the rest of the debt. As Ashfaq had paid a large amount of the debt, instead of requiring him to gather the funds by selling his property, Ashfaq was given six months to pay off the debt. The Civil Court verdict yesterday states that they believe debt payment will be much quicker.

Even though the agreement states that if the compensation is not paid, UMET Construction will have the power to rent out the two floors to receive the compensation, a previous Civil Court ruling states that it can only be done with Ashfaq's cooperation as they are under his name.