Prison sentence against EC President only: Supreme Court verdict

Supreme Court has announced the written document detailing its verdict on the contempt case against members of Elections Commission – according to which the court had sentenced only President of Elections Commission Fuad Thaufeeg to six months in prison.

This comes after it was reported by local media earlier today that the court had issued a six-month prison sentence against all four members of Elections Commission.

The written verdict sent by Supreme Court to media states that Elections Commission members disobeyed its order not to dissolve political parties with less than 3,000 members.

It states that Elections Commission members also challenged the court’s verdict and order to ensure a peaceful environment before holding an election as required by Article 170 of the Constitution, spoke publicly and defiantly on this issue via media, obstructed justice, and defamed the court; and that President of Elections Commission Fuad Thaufeeg challenged and disparaged the court’s procedures and jurisdiction while speaking in court.

The court thus sentenced Fuad Thaufeeg to six months in prison, but ordered to suspend the sentence for a period of three years.

The court also ruled that Fuad Thaufeeg and Vice President of Elections Commission Ahmed Fayaz no longer qualify as members of Elections Commission.