Court orders Correctional Service to pay retired official's benefits
Ibrahim Mohamed Didi began his career with the Correctional Service in 2006 and was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Prisons in 2019.
Top Stories
The Civil Court of Maldives has ordered the Maldives Correctional Service to settle retirement payments and benefits owed to former Deputy Commissioner of Prisons Ibrahim Mohamed Didi following delays in disbursement after his retirement last year.
Ibrahim Mohamed Didi began his career with the Correctional Service in 2006 and was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Prisons in 2019. He retired from service on 26 November last year after nearly two decades in the institution.
According to the case filed at the Civil Court, retirement payments and benefits had not been settled despite President Mohamed Muizzu accepting his retirement request nearly five months earlier.
The former deputy commissioner filed the case last month seeking payment of his retirement entitlements.
In his submission to the court, he requested an order directing the Correctional Service to settle all retirement-related payments, including health insurance and other benefits granted to commissioned officers, within 14 days.
Last Thursday, the court ruled in his favour and ordered the Correctional Service to make the lump-sum retirement payment and arrange the required health insurance benefits within 14 days.
In the case, Ibrahim Mohamed Didi stated that the delay in payments had caused financial difficulties and affected his daily life.
In its response, the Correctional Service said it had twice requested the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises to release the required funds.
According to the Correctional Service:
-
The delay resulted from a lack of response from the Finance Ministry
-
The issue was linked to recent changes in ministerial mandates and discussions on retirement regulations
-
Ibrahim Mohamed Didi had been informed about the situation
-
Responsibility for the delay rested with the Finance Ministry rather than the Correctional Service
However, the court concluded that the responsibility to provide retirement payments and benefits lies with the Correctional Service under existing regulations.
The court further ruled that there was no legal basis to redirect the claim to the Finance Ministry and ordered the Correctional Service to complete the payments within 14 days.
The case comes amid ongoing discussions by the government regarding amendments to retirement regulations and benefits linked to years of service.
