The Civil Court has ordered Askoi Umrah Group to pay MVR 150,000 to victims defrauded by the company.

The case stems from the company's senior leadership absconding with funds collected from six individuals who had paid to undertake the Umrah pilgrimage.

In the lawsuit filed by the six individuals against the company and its Managing Director, Abdulla Rasheed, the claimants sought to recover the MVR 155,700 paid by the family for the Umrah trip, as well as legal costs incurred to file the lawsuit.

After both the company and Abdulla Rasheed consented in court to pay the money, the Civil Court ordered the outstanding amount to be settled within a two-year period.

However, the Civil Court ruled that there was no legal ground to award the MVR 42,000 claimed as legal expenses.

Following multiple instances where Askoi Travel Services Limited collected money without taking pilgrims on Umrah, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs withheld the company’s permit and resolved not to grant Umrah operator licenses to the company or any other firm involving its shareholders.

Askoi Group has been penalized with fines on several occasions over scamming pilgrims after collecting payments, alongside facing additional stringent enforcement actions by the ministry.