News Desk
In a stunning display of bureaucratic magic, President Muizzu has mysteriously waved off a hefty fine for the Tuticorin-based fishing vessel “Holy Spirit,” leaving the opposition scratching their heads and conspiracy theorists sharpening their pencils.
The vessel, seized by the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) on October 22, was found guilty of an impressive list of maritime misdeeds, including trespassing into the Maldivian exclusive economic zone, fishing without a license, using prohibited methods, and catching banned species. According to the laid-out rules, the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources, and Agriculture slapped the vessel’s owner, Mr. Antony Jayabalan, with a hefty fine of MVR 4.2 million.
Former President Solih had steadfastly refused to entertain any notions of waiving the fine for the Indian Ship, standing firm against appeals from Jayabalan and even a petition from the “Holy Spirit.”
The penalty, says former President’s legal aid Uz. Abdulla Naseer, was non-negotiable, and the ship’s owners would have to pay up or face the loss of their vessel. Senior Partner Legal Aid, Uz. Abdulla Naseer, says fines for various misdeeds are the norm. During his tenure as the legal advisor at the President’s Office, there were many requests. “Waiving a fine cannot be entertained; that’s not within the law,” says Naseer. The law doesn’t give the president the ultimate power to wave off fines, he asserts.
But in a twist that could only be described as “political cozying up to India,” President Muizzu’s administration has now erased the fine with a flourish, prompting rumors of a “benevolent hand towards Indian interests” operating behind the scenes in the President’s office. Critics, opposition, and commentators alike are buzzing with speculation: was it a master stroke to make India happy or just a well-timed sleight of hand?
Meanwhile, citizens of Maldives are left to ponder the true extent of Presidential magical powers. With other fines pending on the President’s table, the question is, will those fines disappear too?
The nation watches with bated breath, eagerly awaiting news of other such benevolent acts.
