Ilyas, Faris, Umar, Nazim, Zameel fined for incomplete accounts
They have been ordered to pay the fines to the commission within 30 days from Monday on.
The Elections Commission (EC) has fined five candidates that contested the presidential elections, MVR 20,000 each, for submitting financial statements that do not meet the requirements of the law.
The Elections Commission on Monday issued a press release saying that five of the eight candidates who contested the first round of the presidential election have been fined:
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1-
Umar Naseer, who contested as an independent candidate; H. Dhonjeymuge/Male
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2-
Hassan Zameel, who contested as an independent candidate; M.a. Maveyo Villa/Male
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3-
Ahmed Faris Maumoon, who contested as an independent candidate; M.a. Kinbigasdhoshuge/Male
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4-
The Democrats, Ilyas Labeeb, Blue Sky/Addu
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5-
The Maldives National Party (MNP) contestant Mohammed Nazim, H. Seenukarankaage/Male
According to the EC, each of these candidates will have to pay MVR 20,000. The official election agent of each candidate has also been fined MVR 6,000.
They have been ordered to pay the fines to the commission within 30 days from Monday on.
The EC noted that it approved the action against candidates and their election agents who have submitted financial statements that do not meet the statutory standards.
Candidates who have submitted their financial statements properly are:
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PPM-PNC candidate Dr Mohammed Muizzu
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Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who contested for the MDP
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Jumhoory Party leader and candidate Gasim Ibrahim
The General Elections Act requires every candidate to open a special account for all election-related expenses.
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All expenses are to be paid through that account; the money is handled by the candidate or his election agent
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The amount of cost that can be incurred is Rs 2,000 for each eligible voter; by way of that, the figure amounts to MVR 5.65 million.
Article 75(b) of the Act provides that the punishment for a person who commits an offense in a financial matter shall be:
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Imprisonment for between 3-8 years, depending on the seriousness of the offence
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Or a fine of between MVR 36,000-96,000.
