ECM Fines Adhaalath MVR 25,000 Over 2024 Financial Record-Keeping Failures

The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has fined Adhaalath Party MVR 25,000 after an audit of its 2024 financial statements found that the party had failed to maintain proper records of expenditure and supporting documents for its assets.

The fine followed the submission of the party’s 2024 audit report on 5 October 2026. The auditor reported that certain expenditure entries and valuations of property and assets could not be verified because the party had not provided the necessary supporting documentation. 

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The commission determined that the party had breached Article 41 of the Political Parties Act, which requires political parties to maintain comprehensive accounts of their income, expenditure, assets and financial transactions.

The ECM is responsible for regulating political parties and monitoring their compliance with the Political Parties Act, including requirements governing financial management and reporting.

Under Article 41, political parties must maintain detailed financial records and have their annual accounts audited by an auditor recognised by the Auditor General. The audited reports must be submitted to the EC and the Auditor General within 90 days of the end of each calendar year.

In July 2026, the commission fined three parties MVR 50,000 each over their 2025 financial reports. Adhaalath Party and the Maldives National Party (MNP) were fined for failing to submit their reports, while the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) was penalised for submitting its report after the 20 May deadline.

Adhaalath has therefore faced two separate fines in 2026: the MVR 50,000 penalty for failing to submit its report on time and the latest MVR 25,000 fine over deficiencies identified in its 2024 financial records.