DNR analysis report submitted as evidence in case against Thinadhoo mayor

The prosecution has submitted an analysis report prepared by the Department of National Registration (DNR) as evidence in the criminal case against GDh. Thinadhoo Mayor Saud Ali over allegations of misrepresenting the island's population.

The state filed two criminal charges against Saud on 1 September 2026 in connection with the alleged submission of inaccurate population information.

He faces a charge of knowingly submitting an invalid document, which carries a basic sentence of one year, seven months and six days in prison, and a charge of providing false information to a government institution, which carries a basic sentence of four months and 24 days in prison.

During a Criminal Court hearing broadcast live on the court's YouTube channel, Judge Ahmed Shafiu asked Saud to enter his pleas.

Saud pleaded not guilty to both charges, after which the prosecution proceeded with the disclosure of its evidence.

Among the evidence submitted by the state is a DNR analysis report examining a population list sent by Thinadhoo Council to the Elections Commission (EC) and the Local Government Authority (LGA).

The prosecution also intends to call the person who prepared the report as a witness.

Other prosecution witnesses include former Thinadhoo Council members and employees, staff of the President's Office and LGA who dealt with the council at the time, individuals whose names appear on the allegedly inaccurate list, and the person who investigated the case.

The prosecution has also submitted documents relating to decisions made by Thinadhoo Council when seeking city status, written correspondence between the council and government institutions, and statements Saud provided to two news outlets.

Following the disclosure of the prosecution's evidence, Saud's defence requested additional time to submit its evidence and pre-trial motions.

Judge Shafiu granted the request and set deadlines for the next stages of proceedings.

The defence has until 1pm on 25 November to submit pre-trial motions and until 1pm on 29 November to disclose its evidence.

The prosecution has been given until 1pm on 7 December to submit any pre-trial motions relating to the defence evidence.

The next hearing has been scheduled for 13 December.

During the hearing, Judge Shafiu also ruled that the case could proceed under civil procedural standards.

The case relates to population figures associated with Thinadhoo's designation as a city on 31 August 2023.

Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced the decision during a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) campaign rally held in Thinadhoo ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

At the time of the announcement, DNR records showed that Thinadhoo had a registered population of 7,906.

However, a subsequent Elections Commission report prepared for the determination of electoral constituencies for the 20th Parliament recorded Thinadhoo's population as 10,150.

According to the EC report, the population comprised 5,076 people in the Thinadhoo North constituency and 5,074 in the Thinadhoo South constituency.

The difference between the two figures was 2,244 people.

The reported increase over a relatively short period prompted questions about the accuracy of the population records.

The criminal proceedings against Saud concern allegations relating to the information submitted by Thinadhoo Council. The allegations remain before the court, and no finding of guilt has been made.