Debt and Criminal Record Clearances to Be Accepted After Applications Open, ECM Confirms

The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) announced yesterday that candidates for the upcoming Women’s Development Committee (WDC) election and the Local Council election should submit their debt clearance and criminal record documents only after the application period opens.

In a notice issued yesterday, the commission clarified an earlier announcement made on 4 December outlining procedures for clearing candidates’ debt and criminal records. It stated that the following documents would be accepted only if obtained after 1 December: criminal record and other relevant documents from the Department of Judicial Administration’s portal, criminal record and debt clearance reports from Maldives Police Service, and tax clearance reports from the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA).

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The commission also provided links to the relevant portals in its gazetted notice. However, it stressed that while candidates may begin clearing their records, applications must be submitted only once the commission formally announces the opening of the application window.

“The purpose of offering the opportunity to clear criminal and debt records is to help candidates who want to do so, as many candidates compete in the Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections,” the commission said.