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Thinadhoo City Mayor Saud - Photo: Thinadhoo City Council

MALÉ: Maldives Police Service has officially requested the Prosecutor General’s Office to press criminal charges against Thinadhoo City Mayor Saud Ali following an investigation into alleged population data manipulation.

A senior official at the Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed receiving the case files from the police and stated that lawyers are currently reviewing the evidence to decide on formal charges.

The investigation centers on accusations that the Thinadhoo City Council artificially inflated local headcount figures to meet the legal threshold required to receive city status. Mayor Saud was previously brought in for questioning by police, while the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) also seized documents from the council office during its inquiries.

Key details regarding the legal probe and population controversy include:

• Legal Requirement: Under the Decentralization Act, an island must maintain a minimum population of 10,000 residents to qualify for city status.

• Population Discrepancy: Department of National Registration (DNR) records placed Thinadhoo’s population at roughly 8,000 residents, raising public complaints over how the council reported over 10,000 residents.

• City Status Grant: Thinadhoo was designated as a city in August 2023 under a presidential decree issued by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ahead of the presidential election.

• Denial of Wrongdoing: Mayor Saud Ali has consistently denied all allegations of fraud and illegal actions regarding the island’s registration records.

It remains unconfirmed whether police have requested prosecution against additional individuals alongside Mayor Saud in connection with the case.