The Maldives Supreme Court has reportedly sentenced all four election commissioners to six months of jail for disobeying orders.
The apex court has also terminated the services of the head of the commission and his deputy for not following election guidelines.
According to the BBC, the four election commission members were brought to trial under new rules that allow the Supreme Court to initiate proceedings, prosecute and pass judgement.
The sentencing comes at a time when the commission should be readying up for parliamentary elections due in less than two weeks.
Meanwhile, former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, who lost the eventual re-run of the poll to President Abdulla Yameen, deemed the court's decision as the saddest day in the history of the Maldives' constitutional life, adding that the top court had destroyed the hopes of Maldivians.
