The Local Government Authority (LGA) has suspended Thinadhoo City Mayor Saud Ali and Deputy Mayor Nasrullah Ali following a special inquiry into administrative misconduct and non-compliance within the city council.

According to the LGA, the investigation was launched in response to multiple serious complaints regarding the council’s operations. Councillors were given the opportunity to respond before the final decision was made.

The inquiry found the council failed to respond to official correspondence from state agencies and imposed an unauthorised MVR 5,000 fee for processing citizenship transfers from Thinadhoo to other islands. Despite prior directives from the LGA to reverse the decision, the council did not comply.

It also revealed that the Gaafu Alif Atoll Council and other government bodies had withheld information requested by Thinadhoo Council, while the Atoll Council reportedly disregarded directives issued by the City Council.

Further concerns included the unauthorised disbursement of allowances to members of the council’s bid and bid evaluation committees without approval from the Ministry of Finance. The council was also criticised for opening housing applications for 200 units without consulting the Ministry of Housing, and for alleged favouritism in a procurement process to purchase a launch.

The inquiry noted reports of administrative staff being pressured to act against standard procedures, outstanding debt owed by Councillor Mohamed Zaleef, the absence of formal meeting agendas, and the misappropriation of salaries and allowances by council members—including the council president—before the city was formally established and the council officially constituted.

As a result, Mayor Saud Ali has been suspended for three months for mismanagement of salary and allowance payments, while Deputy Mayor Nasrullah Ali has been suspended for one month on similar grounds.

The LGA has ordered the council and Women’s Development Committee members to return any excess salary payments received and instructed all parties to avoid such conduct in the future. The authority emphasised the importance of adhering to legal procedures and upholding principles of good governance.