Police confirm investigation into PNC membership fraud

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has revealed that the Maldives Police Service (MPS) has confirmed they are investigating the case of allegations against the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) of fraudulently increasing the party’s membership count.

Speaking to RaajjeTV after the main opposition party’s legal team headed to the police headquarters on Wednesday morning to inquire about the progress of the investigation into the case of stealing personal information to increase PNC membership from the Department of National Registration (DNR), Mahfooz Saeed, a member of MDP's legal team, highlighted that the police had confirmed that they are investigating the cases submitted by MDP. Mahfooz said that the police stated they would pay special attention to the case of those who signed as witnesses on the fraudulent forms submitted by PNC to the Elections Commission of Maldives, and that these were cases that could be investigated.

Mahfooz said that the police was required to confirm that they are investigating the cases submitted by MDP because the case involves the personal information of many members of the general public and several have filed complaints. Mahfooz said that Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan is a suspect in the case, and there is much evidence to suggest that the home minister was at the forefront of stealing personal information, compromising DNR’s database.

Mahfooz cited the police having revealed that they would reach a decision after consulting with the Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau regarding making a general statement about the ongoing investigation.

As the country's largest opposition party, MDP has also submitted the case to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in addition to the police institution, seeking a thorough investigation.

There have been calls on social media for the home minister’s resignation for misusing state resources and attempting to gain unfair advantages.