Order issued to arrest Umar to take him to court

The Criminal Court has issued an order upon the police to arrest Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer in order to ensure his appearance in court, after he missed two hearings of a case filed against him by the State.

Sources have told Sun Online that this order was issued yesterday. Neither the police nor the court has however commented on the matter.

The State has filed a case against Umar stating that he disobeyed orders, after he encouraged protesters to use 50 ladders to break in to the headquarters of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) during a protest in 2010 against the government of former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Two hearings have been cancelled after Umar failed to appear in court, as he was out of the country.

Home Ministry has informed the court in a letter that Umar is away on an official visit and will return on 16 June, before which he would be unable to attend court.