The Supreme Court of the Maldives has ruled that PNC’s North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Sinan has lost his parliamentary seat over an unpaid debt.

The decision, delivered on Sunday, comes nine months after hearings concluded, marking the first time the court has disqualified a member of the current 20th Parliament. The case was filed by a private individual, Ghalib Saleem.

The case stems from a loan of MVR 3.8 million taken from Maldives Islamic Bank by Sinan and two co-applicants, who later defaulted. The bank pursued legal action, and a lower court ruled that the debt must be repaid.

In its judgment, the Supreme Court found that the debt had been clearly established and that Sinan failed to comply with the court-ordered repayment plan. The court noted there was no evidence of consistent payments, and that Sinan did not appeal the original ruling, making it final.

The bench also rejected arguments that the initial judgment was issued in his absence, stating that he had been given the opportunity to defend himself. It further clarified that even if the loan was backed by collateral, an unpaid, court-confirmed debt disqualifies a person from holding a parliamentary seat.

All five justices, led by Justice Aisha Shujoon Mohamed, unanimously agreed on the ruling.

As a result, Sinan has been removed from office, reinforcing the constitutional requirement for MPs to meet their financial obligations to remain eligible to serve.