Thinadhoo Mayor’s population fraud trial to begin tomorrow

The Criminal Court has scheduled the first hearing for tomorrow in the case against GDh. Thinadhoo Mayor Saud Ali, who is accused of providing fraudulent information to have Thinadhoo declared a city.

The case stems from a police investigation that has been ongoing since early 2024 into allegations that the Thinadhoo Council submitted falsified population data to relevant state authorities in order to obtain city status. Mayor Saud was summoned to the local police station for questioning over the allegations on July 10.

Last month, the Prosecutor General’s Office filed two criminal charges against Saud: knowingly providing fraudulent documentation and providing false information to an official authority. The trial is scheduled to begin at the Criminal Court at 09:00am tomorrow, with proceedings to be held in person. If convicted, the mayor faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

The issue was first brought to the attention of the Parliament and the Local Government Authority (LGA) in 2024 by North Thinadhoo MP Saudulla Hilmy, alleging that Thinadhoo’s population of 10,150 was fabricated.

MP Saudulla further alleged that the population data was manipulated to enable elected councilors to assume mayoral titles and to fulfil a campaign pledge made by former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Thinadhoo was officially declared a city by former president Solih on August 30, 2023, during the presidential election campaign. The current administration has since maintained the island’s city status.