The Commissioner General of Taxation, Fathuhulla Jameel has stated that the fines for lockdown violations may be settled online.

The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority held a press briefing at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) on Wednesday afternoon to provide the latest updates regarding the impacts of the pandemic.

As such, Jameel noted that arrangements have been made to make the fine payments online, and that a few individuals have already settled the fees.

While police statistics show that over 5,000 individuals have been fined as of Tuesday, Jameel stressed that a very less number of people have paid up so far.

He noted that individuals who have been fined under the Health Protection Agency (HPA) are also required to settle their payments online.

Highlighting that these fines are not taxes, Jameel noted that fees can only be eased by those who impose these fines and not by MIRA. The authority only handles collecting these payments, said Jameel.

The total number of individuals fined for breaching the lockdown order up until Tuesday sits at 5,657 out of which 4,923 are from Malé, 630 from Hulhumalé and 104 from Villimalé.

Under the orders of the Director General of Public Health, first time violators of the lockdown will be slapped with MVR 1,000 fines and repeat offenders will be arrested under Article 533 (a) of the Penal Code.

Maldives capital Malé City was locked down on April 15 following the detection of the first ever Covid-19 community transmission and the period has been extended a number of times since. The lockdown is set to expire on May 28, Thursday.