PG office asked to charge Thinadhoo mayor over population data
Saud had previously been summoned by police as part of an investigation into allegations that false population information was provided.
A case seeking criminal charges against Thinadhoo Mayor Saud Ali over allegations that population figures for GDh. Thinadhoo were misrepresented has been submitted to the Prosecutor General's Office.
The Prosecutor General's Office confirmed on Thursday that it received the case on 19 August, with investigators seeking charges against Saud for allegedly providing false information and giving false testimony.
Saud had previously been summoned by police as part of an investigation into allegations that false population information was provided in connection with Thinadhoo obtaining city status.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has also investigated the matter and previously entered the Thinadhoo City Council office and seized documents as part of its inquiry.
Thinadhoo was granted city status on 31 August 2023 under the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Solih announced the decision during a campaign rally on the island ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
Questions were later raised over the population figures used in relation to the island's status.
At the time city status was granted, Department of National Registration (DNR) records showed Thinadhoo had a registered population of 7,906.
However, a report later prepared by the Elections Commission (EC) for determining constituencies for the 20th People's Majlis placed Thinadhoo's registered population at 10,150.
According to the EC figures, 5,076 people were registered in the Thinadhoo North constituency and 5,074 in Thinadhoo South.
The difference between the DNR and EC figures, and the increase in the registered population over the period, led to questions over how the population had crossed the 10,000 threshold.
A separate case was also filed in court seeking to revoke Thinadhoo's city status on the grounds that its population did not meet the required threshold of 10,000. The High Court dismissed the case.
The submission of the investigation to the Prosecutor General's Office does not amount to the filing of criminal charges. The office will review the evidence before deciding whether to prosecute the case.
