President’s Office Fined for Failing to Comply with Information Requests

The President’s Office has been fined MVR 2,000 for repeatedly failing to provide information requested under the Maldives’ Right to Information (RTI) Act, despite multiple directives from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICOM).

The penalty was imposed following a hearing on Tuesday concerning five RTI requests submitted by Raajje TV. According to ICOM, the President’s Office failed to respond to any of the requests within the timeframe required by law.

The decision marks the first time the President’s Office has been fined for failing to disclose information under the RTI Act.

Speaking at the hearing, Information Commissioner Ahmed Ahid Rasheed said the institution had not released the requested information despite being given an additional opportunity to comply after an initial hearing. He said the continued failure to respond constituted non-compliance with orders issued by ICOM.

“The institution has failed to act on the Commission’s order in any way. Such conduct amounts to an obstruction of the Information Commissioner’s statutory duties under the law,” Ahid said, announcing the decision to impose the fine.

ICOM has previously issued several warnings to the President’s Office over delays in responding to information requests within the deadlines set out in the RTI Act.

The Commission has also stated in earlier cases that institutions which continue to withhold information after being granted a final opportunity to comply could face further legal action, including referral of the matter to the Prosecutor General’s Office.