MDP calls for withdrawal of criminal charges against Thinadhoo Mayor Saud Ali

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has called for the withdrawal of two criminal charges against GDh. Thinadhoo Mayor Saud Ali, alleging that the prosecution is politically motivated.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the party expressed concern over the charges filed against Saud in September in connection with allegations that Thinadhoo's population figures had been misrepresented.

Saud faces two charges: knowingly providing a false document, which carries a basic sentence of one year, seven months and six days in prison, and providing false information to a government authority, which carries a basic sentence of four months and 24 days in prison.

Court proceedings in the case began on 1 November.

The MDP said the charges arose from a decision taken by the Thinadhoo Council and argued that holding Saud personally criminally liable for the council's decision was contrary to the Constitution, existing laws and established legal principles.

The party described the charges as politically motivated and without sufficient legal grounds.

"These charges have been brought without any basis and with political motives," the MDP said in its statement.

The party claimed that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence to establish that Saud had committed the alleged offences.

"The state has not presented sufficient evidence because Saud Ali has not committed any such criminal offence," the statement said.

The MDP also criticised the handling of the case by the Maldives Police Service and the Prosecutor General's Office.

It alleged that the authorities had acted with an unusual degree of urgency compared with their handling of other criminal cases.

The party further claimed that the Criminal Court appeared to be seeking an expedited judgment, departing from the procedures generally followed in other cases.

These allegations were made by the MDP and have not been established by a court.

The MDP also drew attention to remarks allegedly made by Thinadhoo North MP Saudulla Hilmy of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC).

According to the party, Saudulla had publicly warned that Saud could be removed from office and imprisoned even if he won re-election as mayor.

The MDP said the criminal charges were filed shortly after those remarks.

The party argued that the circumstances raised concerns about the motives behind the prosecution.

It called for what it described as politically motivated charges to be withdrawn.

"We condemn the politically motivated prosecutions being carried out against MDP activists and elected representatives at the direction of President Dr Muizzu's government," the party said.

The statement added that such actions would not deter MDP members from continuing their political activities.

The case relates to questions surrounding Thinadhoo's population figures and its designation as a city in August 2023.

Thinadhoo was granted city status during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, when Saud was serving as council president.

Solih announced the decision during an MDP campaign rally in Thinadhoo ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

At the time, records maintained by the Department of National Registration showed that Thinadhoo had a registered population of 7,906.

Under the applicable population requirement, an island must have more than 10,000 residents to qualify for city status.

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

The difference between the population figures prompted questions about how the island's registered population had increased within a relatively short period.

Saud retained the mayoral position in the local council elections held in April 2026, defeating a candidate from the ruling PNC.

The criminal proceedings against him remain ongoing, and no finding of guilt has been made.