Former Civil Court judge Mohamed Haleem has filed a Supreme Court Petition MP for Dhandhoo Constituency Yauqoob Abdullah’s parliamentary seat amid questions being asked about the MP’s sea after the MP accepted a position on the Council of the newly established Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Maldives (ICAM).
The former judge filed the case as a constitutional matter requiring a decision by the country’s top court.
The ICAM was established under the recently enacted Chartered Accountants Act and MP Yauqoob was appointed to the council of ICAM on the 14th of this month.
But he had resigned from the post on Monday after the legality of the appointment and the issue of his parliamentary seat was raised.
MP Yauqoob had said that he had sought legal advice before accepting the membership on the ICAM Council but had since resigned from the post after a difference of opinions arose between the lawyers themselves.
Article 73, section (d) of the constitution prohibits MPs from serving an Independent Institution or an Independent post.
Many have aimed heavy criticism at MP Yauqoob for failing to understand the constitution when he accepted the post from ICAM and have said that Yauqoob has now lost the criteria required to remain as an MP.
ICAM- a legal body mandated with the regulation of the accounting profession in the Maldives, was established on 8th September 2020.
The Maldives Chartered Accountants Act stipulates that ICAM is authorized to engage legal proceedings to undertake its responsibilities and will be established as an independent institution with an official seal.
It further enables ICAM to register Associate Members who hold a membership at the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).
As the Act has now been enacted, ICAM is mandated to take over the work being conducted by the Government in registering and licensing parties for audit and assurance services, as well as registering members and providing the necessary guidelines.
