Mohamed Nasheed, the former Maldivian president and Opposition leader, was arrested on Sunday under anti-terrorism laws for allegedly ordering the arrest a senior judge in 2012 that triggered violence in the Indian Ocean island. Nasheed(47), was arrested at 2.45pm, his Maldivian Democratic Party Chairperson Ali Waheed tweeted.
The country’s first democratically elected leader was arrested on terrorism charges over the controversial detention of Criminal Court Judge Abdulla Mohamed in January 2012. The arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court states that the former president might abscond from the trial.
The first hearing of the case is scheduled for Monday. Nasheed took refuge at the Indian High Commission in Male to avoid being arrested in connection with the same case in February 2013.
According to the office of the former President, Nasheed has been transferred to Dhoonidhoo prison. MDP Chairperson Ali Waheed has also been taken into police custody, Minivan News reported. Nasheed became the country’s first democratically elected leader in 2008.