The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to forward charges against Thinadhoo City Mayor Saud Ali to the Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office over the allocation of plots of land to a private company without going through a bidding process.

According to the ACC, regulations governing the allocation of land for non-residential purposes require that plots designated for industrial or commercial use be opened for public bidding. However, Mayor Saud allegedly bypassed this requirement by signing an agreement to hand over a plot of land to a private company, and subsequently allocated three additional plots to the same company in violation of the regulations.

Three city councillors — Aminath Naseema, Ahmeema Ahmed, and Aishath Liusha Zubair — will also face charges for supporting the allocation during a council meeting, which the ACC says provided the company with undue benefit. All four individuals are set to be charged with abuse of official position.

This is not the first time Mayor Saud has faced legal action. Two charges have already been filed against him in connection with the declaration of Thinadhoo as a city, which is alleged to have been carried out unlawfully. Those charges are for knowingly issuing a false document and providing false information to an official authority.