EC did not respond to request to provide original ballot paper: State

The State has claimed that the Elections Commission (EC) failed to comply with the State’s request to provide a copy of the original ballot paper, in relation to the investigation of the case wherein ballot papers, similar to the originals used in the presidential election held on 7 September, were printed by two individuals in Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi.

The State made this accusation in High Court today, at the trial against Ahmed Athif, Maavina, Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi, for printing ballot papers.

The State Prosecutor was asked by the judges if she had a copy of the original ballot paper in her possession.

This question came after Athif’s lawyer, Abdulla Haseen, claimed that the ballot papers printed by Athif are different from the originals, and that a copy of the original ballot paper must be presented in court to see the difference.

The State Prosecutor said that the EC did not respond to the police’s request, during the investigation, to provide a copy of the original ballot paper.

She further said that the EC also failed to respond when asked to explain the difference between the original ballot papers and the counterfeits printed by Athif.

The judges asked the State to make further efforts to obtain the original ballot paper.