Sinan previously represented Hithadhoo North in Parliament as a member of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC).
Former Hithadhoo North MP Mohamed Sinan, who lost his parliamentary seat earlier this year after the Supreme Court ruled that he had failed to repay a debt in accordance with a court judgment, has been appointed Managing Director of Agro National Corporation (AgroNAT).
The appointment was announced on Monday, a month after the government decided to make AgroNAT a subsidiary of Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO). President Mohamed Muizzu announced the restructuring in September as part of changes to the company’s operations.
MIFCO said its board had appointed two officials to AgroNAT’s leadership. Sinan was appointed Managing Director, while MIFCO Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Anas was appointed Chairman of AgroNAT.
His seat was declared vacant by the Supreme Court on 12 April after it ruled that he had failed to repay a debt in accordance with a court judgment. The case concerned an MVR 3.8 million loan from Maldives Islamic Bank, of which MVR 2.5 million remained outstanding when a lower court ordered repayment within six months.
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Sinan had failed to comply with the repayment terms set by the court. Although the outstanding amount was later settled, the Supreme Court found that this did not amount to compliance with the original repayment order.
Following the ruling, Sinan announced that he would contest the PNC primary for the Hithadhoo North by-election and subsequently secured the party ticket. He later withdrew from the election and relinquished the ticket.
The Hithadhoo North by-election was later won by opposition Maldivian Democratic Party candidate and former Addu City Mayor Abdulla Sodiq.
Sinan’s appointment comes as AgroNAT is being brought under MIFCO as part of the government’s restructuring of the agriculture sector. The government has said the arrangement is intended to continue AgroNAT’s operations, support food security initiatives and develop the agriculture sector.
Source: Atoll Times
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