Court Cancels Hearing in Thinoondhoo City Status Case as Mayor Saoud Ali Fails to Appear

The Criminal Court has canceled a scheduled hearing in the case against Thinoondhoo Mayor Saoud Ali, who is charged with deceiving the population to secure city status for the island in 2023 under the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government. The court confirmed that the hearing was canceled because Saoud did not appear, and has not yet announced further steps. Prosecutors allege that Saoud provided false information to authorities, claiming Thinoondhoo's population was 10,000 by including names from other islands and deceased individuals. If convicted, Saoud would lose his mayoral position.