Thinadhoo mayor, deputy mayor suspended without pay

Local Government Authority (LGA) has decided to suspend Thinadhoo City’s Mayor Saudhulla Ali and Deputy Mayor Nasrulla Ali without pay.

LGA took the decision after conducting an inquiry, prompted by complaints lodged against the Council with the Authority.

According to LGA, the Authority took statements from council members and council staff and reviewed documents as part of their inquiry.

Mayor Saudhulla was suspended without pay for three months, while Deputy Mayor Nasrulla was suspended without pay for two months.

LGA said Thinadhoo Council has been rendered incapable of fulfilling its responsibilities. According to the authority, numerous complaints have been received by various government authorities over abuse of the council’s authority and resources among other unsanctioned acts by the mayor and council members.

LGA’s inquiry is based on a total of 19 issues – a combination of complaints that have been submitted to LGA itself and other government authorities.

Some of these issues include:

• Failure to respond to letters sent to the Council
• Charging MVR 5,000 fee from residents who migrate to other islands in violation of LGA’s instruction against charging this fee
• Failure to provide information requested by atoll council and other state institutions
• Disbursing allowance to bid committee and bid evaluation committee without Finance Ministry’s approval
• Failure to cooperate with Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for an investigation
• Sharing posts on Council’s official social media handles that defame the Council and the decentralization system
• Failure to comply when Housing Ministry instructed to stop after announcing applications for 200 housing units in Thinadhoo without liaising with the Ministry
• Failure to meet with residents wishing to raise concerns about not having access to well water at flats issued in Thinadhoo
• Taking salaries equivalent of a mayor and city council members before Thinadhoo was granted city status and the city council was formed