Court gives Mayor Saud 10 days to appoint a lawyer as preliminary hearing concludes

The Criminal Court on Monday granted Thinadhoo Mayor Saud Ali 10 days to appoint a lawyer to defend himself against the charges raised against him.

At the preliminary hearing held this morning, the Prosecutor General’s Office charged Saud with giving false information to official agencies and obstructing an investigation. If convicted of both charges, he faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, Saud submitted lists containing deceased individuals and invalid information to the Local Government Authority (LGA) to show that Thinadhoo’s population had reached 10,000. The office further alleged that Saud misled police investigators by withholding information and claiming it was not recorded.

Mayor Saud has denied the allegations, describing the case as a relentless attempt to use political influence to remove him from office.

Thinadhoo North MP Saudulla Hilmy submitted the issue to Parliament and the LGA in 2024, alleging that Thinadhoo was designated as a city illegally. MP Saudulla argued that the claim that Thinadhoo’s population is 10,150 is fraudulent.

He alleged that elected councilors sought mayoral titles and that former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had promised to declare Thinadhoo a city. Thinadhoo was officially declared a city by former President Solih on August 30, 2023, during the presidential election campaign. The current administration has since decided to maintain the city status.