Tag: local councils elections

High fines and prison sentences as High Court concludes 33 elections cases

The High Court of the Maldives has concluded all 33 cases concerning elections and has delivered verdicts on the cases.

The High Court said it has fined eight candidates who ran for the Local Councils Elections Rf 20,000 (US$1556) for giving false information to the Elections Commissions (EC).

Seven candidates who ran for the Local Councils Elections were fined Rf 12,000 ((US$933) for running as a candidate when “the court found that they had unpaid decreed debts, which makes the person ineligible for running as a candidate,” said the High Court.

One person was sentenced to one year imprisonment for obstructing the elections, said the High Court, while another person who filmed his vote was fined Rf 12,000 (US$933).

The High Court ordered the Elections Commission to hold the elections on Haa Alifu Kelaa Island Council and elections of Haa Alifu Atoll Councils once again.

In addition, there was no reason that two ballot boxes QO3.09.01 and Q03.09.02, kept in Faresmathoda, should be declared void, said the High Court.

The Court also ordered the Elections Commission to break the security seal of Ballot Box number W07.1.1, which was kept in Hinamfushi Prison, and ordered that it be recounted.

On February oath taking ceremonies for successful candidates have been held in all but 14 areas, where the High Court ordered the suspension of the ceremonies until the cases filed regarding the elections were concluded.

Ceremonies scheduled to be held for H.Dh Nolhivaranfaru island council, H.Dh Nolhivaram area Atoll council, N. Miladhoo island council, R. Maduvvari island council, R. Maduvvari Area Atoll council, G. DH Faresmathoda island council, G.Dh Faresmathoda Area Atoll Council, A.Dh Dhangethi island council, A.A Mathiveri island council, A.A Atoll council, L. Atoll council, G.A Vilingili island council,G.A Atoll council and L. Dhambidhoo island council were delayed by order of the High Court.

The ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s Deputy Secretary General Mohamed Imthiyaz recently said in a statement that the Local Council Elections were not conducted fairly, and accused the Elections Commission giving more power to a ”specific political party.”

Imthiyaz said that MDP’s complaint bureau had received “more than 1000 complaints” regarding the elections from different areas, which could potentially affect the result of the elections.

”MDP has requested the Elections Commission re-conduct elections in some councils and to recount the votes in some others,” said Imthiyaz.

The MDP said it had received information that an under-aged boy had voted in the local council elections and that a house that should have been registered in Galolhu South was registered in Mid-Galolhu area.

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Local councils elections “unfair and one sided”, claims MDP

The ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s Deputy Secretary General Mohamed Imthiyaz has said in a statement that the Local Council Elections were not conducted fairly, and accused the Elections Commission giving more power to a ”specific political party.”

Imthiyaz said that MDP’s complaint bureau had received “more than 1000 complaints” regarding the elections from different areas, which could potentially affect the result of the elections.

”MDP has requested the Elections Commission re-conduct elections in some councils and to recount the votes in some others,” said Imthiyaz.

MDP said it had received information that an under-aged boy had voted in the local council elections and that house that should have been registered in Galolhu South was registered in Mid-Galolhu area.

”And in some vote papers, names of candidates who were dismissed were included, and when people have ticked near the dismissed candidate’s name the vote has been considered void,” said the MDP.

”The irresponsible and unfair actions of the Elections Commission had caused issues that could alter the result of Haa Alifu Atoll Kela, Raa Atoll Ungoofaaru, Noonu Atoll Miladhoo, Manadhoo, Laamu Atoll Gan and Maabidhoo.”

MDP has also said that because the Elections Commission has not yet revealed the preliminary result of some areas, it could cause further confusion.

President of the Elections Commission Fuad Thaufeeg and Vice President Ahmed Fayaz did not respond to Minivan News at time of press.

The Maldivian Democracy Network declined to comment on the statement.

The Maldivian Democratic Party earlier released a statement claiming it had calculated the popular vote in the local council elections as 44% MDP, 40% DRP, based on current available data.

The popular vote reflects the overall political preference of voters, and has not yet been released by the Elections Commission (EC). The MDP said it produced the figures based on data currently published by the EC on its website.

Both parties declared victory and were celebrating this week after the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) won a decisive seat majority in the local council elections, while the MDP won control of major population hubs.

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