Verdict looms in Maldives election challenge
The Supreme Court was undecided on hearing from secret witnesses.

15 Oct 2018, 9:00 AM
– ‘Flying carpet’ –
M7 Print won the bid to print ballot papers despite proposing a much higher price than competitor Novelty Printer
M7 board of directors include a Jumhooree Party member and two children of JP leader Gasim Ibrahim
M7’s printing machine lacked automatic audit features to prevent printing of additional ballot papers
The ballot papers were stored in a room at the elections centre without sufficient security
A chemical was applied to make the tick or checkmark disappear in the square next to candidate number one.
A checkmark was pre-printed in candidate number two’s square and hidden with a special mineral layer. The hidden checkmark reappears when “heat pressure such as folding the paper is applied.”
A pen with disappearing ink was left at the voting booth
Elections official used a ring with a pen to mark blank ballot papers while unfolding and stacking ballots
The national complaints bureau was abruptly changed to the Dharubaaruge convention centre in Malé, which made it difficult to submit complaints as there were no arrangements to accept complaints via phone or fax
The Elections Commission returned several complaints forwarded by the bureau
UV light was not used at some polling stations to verify ballot papers
The number of ballot papers was not announced at some polling stations before voting began
There were 25 additional ballots in a box in Hulhumalé
Ballot papers were taken out of some polling stations and fake ballots were slipped into boxes
There was no secrecy or privacy due to the way voting booths were set up in some polling stations
Some security envelops with ballot papers were not sealed when they were brought to the election centre in the capital
There was illegal campaigning and bribery in some voting queues
Unauthorised items such as handbags were taken into polling stations