The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has requested to investigate each form signed by Villimale' MP Mohamed Ismail as a witness amid outrage over the ruling People's National Congress (PNC)'s fake membership forms scandal.
At a press conference by the MDP's legal team, legal director Mahfooz Saeed said stealing people's personal data is a criminal offence and that they have requested police for separate investigations into each form signed by MP Mohamed Ismail.
"Mainly, one of the people we requested to be investigated was Mohamed Ismail, the MP for Villimale' constituency. It is our request to investigate separately, each form signed by the MP as a witness," Mahfooz stated.
In his defence, Mohamed Ismail says he signed as a witness to complete the party's forms administratively. Mahfooz noted that this common practice, as claimed by PNC, is a criminal offence.
"Most of the people who signed were in their islands. Where were the witnesses at the time? Mohamed Ismail cannot be in every island. To say that he was present when all the members signed. Mohamed Ismail is saying that he signed and that it is common practice. But that common practice is a criminal offence," Mahfooz stressed.
According to Section 49 of the Political Parties Act, someone who submits fake forms for political party membership will be fined an amount between MVR 5000 and MVR 10,000 for each form.
Images which show Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusaan supervising the preparation of fake forms to increase the membership of the ruling party leaked on the social media platform X on Wednesday.
MDP wants Ihusaan suspended until the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the police conclude their investigations. Meanwhile, the MDP parliamentary group has submitted a no-confidence motion against him to the People's Majlis.
The main opposition party has also called on the Prosecutor General (PG) to order the police and ACC to investigate the issue of the fake forms as it is a matter of public interest.
