Maldives Police Service took former President Mohamed Nasheed into custody today in Gaaf Dhaal Atoll Faresmaathoda, after the Hulhumale Magistrate Court issued an order to the Police to bring him in.
The Hulhumale Magistrate Court ordered the Maldives Police Service yesterday to produce former President Mohamed Nasheed in court, to face charges over his use of the military to arrest and detain the Chief Judge of the Criminal Court, Abdulla Mohamed. Though former President Nasheed insisted the detention was due to the Judge's own corruption, the action came a day after this Judge had released two prisoners of conscience arrested by Nasheed.
The court issued the order for his arrest after former President Nasheed failed to appear for the first hearing of the case which had been originally scheduled for 1 October 2012 and rescheduled for 7 October 2012 after former President Nasheed skipped court and departed on a campaign trip to the south of the Maldives violating another court order requiring him to remain in the city for the duration of his trial. When he first started his voyage, he left the Capital with a couple hundred of his supporters - violating boat safety codes and regulations, while dareing the authorities to arrest him.
After the first scheduled hearing was boycotted by former President Nasheed, Hulhumale Court had ordered the Maldives Police Service to produce him in court. However, Police had said that the first order had referred to an Article which does not afford the authority to the Maldives Police Service to produce an accused person(s) in court by taking the person(s) into custody and therefore the Police could not implement the Court’s order without former President Nasheed's consent. A second order was issued yesterday and gives authority to the Police to take the accused person(s) into custody and produce him/her in Court.
Former President Nasheed had made an appeal to the High Court against the Hulhumale Court order but it was rejected by the High Court.
Upon their request, some MDP members of Parliament and former Cabinet Ministers of President Nasheed’s Government were allowed to travel with former President Nasheed, to Male’ from Faresmaathoda.
Besides former President Nasheed, former Defence Minister Tholhath Ibrahim Kaleyfaanu, former Chief of Defence Force Major General Moosa Ali Jaleel, former Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Didi and Colonel Mohamed Ziyad are also being charged with the unconstitutional arrest of Judge Abdulla Mohamed violating Article 81 of the Penal Code. If found guilty the offence carries a maximum sentence of three years in jail or banishment or a fine not exceeding MVR 2,000.
Contrary to accusations of illtreatment, President Nasheed has recieved every courtasy possible. The Police have even facilitated his family and local media to visit him, as well as arranging for Foreign dignitaries to meet him before his court date tomorrow as well.
*** Update: Nasheed was released after the court hearing on October 9th, and was asked to attend the next one of his own recognizance
