Elections Commission (EC) has decided to levy a fine of MVR 75,000 on ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) for "defaming" the commission with allegations that its members had committed fraud in the recently held Presidential Election.
The electoral watchdog reached the decision in a sit-down held Sunday.
Following incumbent President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's defeat in the election held on September 23, PPM had accused EC members of accepting bribes and rigging the polling. The president had filed a constitutional case at the Supreme Court, seeking to annul the election.
However, the top court ruled on Sunday that there was no evidence of election fraud, and thus no reason to nullify the results.
Speaking at the first post-verdict press conference the EC held on Monday, the commission's President Ahmed Shareef declared that the apex court's ruling proved that the allegations of bribery and fraud levied against the EC members were false.
He pronounced that the electoral watchdog has decided to take action against PPM for spreading false accusations against its members.
"We previously sent a letter [to PPM] to stop propagating these accusations, in the name of protests or information sessions, that compromised the integrity of our members and the whole commission. We warned we would take action if they did not stop. The commission discussed and decided in our meeting yesterday to penalise PPM by MVR 75,000," he said.
EC maintains that the presidential election on September 23 was the most free, fair and peaceful election held in the Maldives to date.
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