The President's Office is to be fined MVR 2000 for obstructing the legal responsibilities of the Information Commissioner. 

The decision was announced at a public hearing held today by the Information Commissioner, Ahmed Aahid Rasheed, following the failure of the President's Office to respond to five RTI requests.

Aahid stated that the President's Office's failure to comply in the designated timeframe to RTI requests, as well as failure to comply after additional time was granted by the commission, is a direct obstruction of the Information Commissioner's duties. 

The commissioner further warned that if a response is not provided in the designated timeframe, and if this exceeds 45 days, then the commission will seek to press charges against the Information Officer of the President's Office. 

Generally, the Information Commissioner directs a response to be issued within five days of a hearing. Offices receive a period of 45 days within which to appeal the commissioner's decision. 

The Information Commission has fined other institutions as well previously for failure to comply with RTI requests.