Parliamentary Committee Approves Chief Justice's Salary Hike Amid Rasmalé Sale Case

The Maldives Parliamentary Finance Committee has unanimously approved an increase in the salary of Chief Justice Abdul Ghani Mohamed, raising it from MVR 91,000 to MVR 95,125 per month. The decision was made during a committee meeting on October 27, 2026, after MP Mohamed Mamdooh of Fonadhoo constituency proposed the adjustment, citing that the Chief Justice’s salary had become lower than that of the Speaker of Parliament. The salary increase comes as a case seeking to halt the sale of Rasmalé is pending before the Supreme Court. The case, filed by lawyer Ali Hussain, was initially rejected by Supreme Court Registrar Raufaa Haidar and is now under review by the full bench of judges. Rasmalé, a 500-hectare reclaimed island built with public funds, is at the center of a controversial deal with UAE-based Eagle Hills. The government signed commercial terms on September 21, 2026, and plans to finalize a permanent agreement on November 11, Republic Day. President Mohamed Muizzu had previously promised that no land from Rasmalé would be leased or given to foreign entities. In a related move, the finance committee also approved raising the Speaker’s salary to MVR 95,000, following earlier adjustments to parliamentary salaries.