The prosecution has refused to issue receipts for former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's trip to the United States, sparking a legal battle over transparency and accountability.
The controversy centers around President Solih's trip to the United Nations in 2022. A petition filed under the Right to Information Act sought details of the total number and names of participants in the trip, during which President Solih delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly.
Last year, the High Court upheld the Information Commissioner's order to disclose the expenses of the trip. However, the prosecution has since appealed the case to the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court's ruling.
The prosecution argued that the High Court's decision to make the information, including receipts for the expenses incurred by President Solih, public was flawed. They maintained that under the Right to Information Act, travel information can be disclosed without receipts.
In today's hearing, the prosecution requested the Supreme Court to overturn the High Court's decision. They contended that the disclosure of receipts was unnecessary and that providing travel details alone should suffice.
In response, the Information Commissioner's Office defended the High Court's decision, stating that the receipts were ordered to ensure the authenticity of the information issued by the President's Office. They argued that there was no valid reason to alter the High Court's ruling.
The bench adjourned the hearing after announcing that further proceedings would be scheduled following today's session.
The controversy centers around President Solih's trip to the United Nations in 2022. A petition filed under the Right to Information Act sought details of the total number and names of participants in the trip, during which President Solih delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly.
Last year, the High Court upheld the Information Commissioner's order to disclose the expenses of the trip. However, the prosecution has since appealed the case to the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court's ruling.
The prosecution argued that the High Court's decision to make the information, including receipts for the expenses incurred by President Solih, public was flawed. They maintained that under the Right to Information Act, travel information can be disclosed without receipts.
In today's hearing, the prosecution requested the Supreme Court to overturn the High Court's decision. They contended that the disclosure of receipts was unnecessary and that providing travel details alone should suffice.
In response, the Information Commissioner's Office defended the High Court's decision, stating that the receipts were ordered to ensure the authenticity of the information issued by the President's Office. They argued that there was no valid reason to alter the High Court's ruling.
The bench adjourned the hearing after announcing that further proceedings would be scheduled following today's session.
