The Elections Commission (EC) has fined the candidates who contested in the Guraidhoo by-election last April over incomplete financial disclosures.
EC secretary general Hassan Zakariyya told Adhadhu that all three candidates were fined for failing to submit complete financial statements as required by law.
"The three candidates and their official campaign agents were each fined MVR 6000," the secretary general said.
According to the general elections law, financial statements must be submitted to the EC within 21 days of the election date. The records must be audited by a registered auditor.
Requirements for financial statement:
- Details of election-related expenses made by candidate
- Details of sources of funds obtained for election campaign
- Details of donors who contributed money and material together with details of donations
- Bank account statement showing all transactions
- Receipts, invoices and bills to prove legitimate transactions
The candidates in the Kaafu Guraidhoo by-election were Ibrahim Shaaz from the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Hussain Riza from the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Ali Arif from the Maldives National Party (MNP).
MDP candidate Shaaz won the by-election with 1346 votes. His closest contender, PPM candidate Riza, received 1226 votes. MNP candidate Ali Arif got 122 votes.
The by-election was held after former Guraidhoo MP Ibrahim Riza passed away while undergoing treatment for cancer. Riza represented the Guraidhoo constituency for nearly three terms.
