Former President Nasheed apprehended on terrorism charges

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has been apprehended on terrorism charges following arrest of Chief Judge of Criminal Court Abdulla Mohamed against law. Nasheed was taken to Dhoonidhoo after arrest. Criminal Court, in its order, has referred to a Police Intelligence Report and the activities that transpired during the trial against Nasheed at Hulhumalé Magistrate Court that he might attempt to hide and fail to appear in court for the terrorism charges filed by the state.

Police have appealed not to cover faces and not to involve children in protests. A statement published in Police website read that actions will be taken for disobeying police orders and for those who try to make their way through police barricades.

MNDF has denied reports that armed military officers have been deployed to control the unrest in Malé.

Nasheed’s arrest has been reported by international media, including AP and BBC.

A hearing has been scheduled for the terrorism charges against Nasheed and Tholhath, for 4:00 p.m. tomorrow.

Several people have been arrested near Republic Square for disobeying police orders. The roads near Shaheed Hussain Adam Building and Bandaara Koshi have been cordoned off. Protesters have been moved from Republic Square to near Dhiraagu on Chaandhanee Magu, where a protest is ongoing.

Police Spokesperson has said that MDP Chairperson Ali Waheed has not been arrested, but he went to Dhoonidhoo on the same boat as Nasheed.

Chief Judge of Criminal Court Abdulla Mohamed has taken leave. Criminal Court Spokesperson told Sun Online that Judge Abdulla went on leave in relation to the terrorism charges against five people following his arrest, which have been filed to the court by the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Criminal Court has said that in addition to Nasheed, former Defence Minister Tholhath Ibrahim Kaleyfaan, Defence Minister Moosa Ali Jaleel, Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) former Brigadier General and Hithadhoo-Medhu MP Ibrahim Mohamed Didi, and Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Ziyad have also been charged with terrorism.

Police have denied rumours that the court has also issued an order to arrest Leader of Jumhooree Party (JP) Gasim Ibrahim. Police said that they have not made any request from the court to arrest Gasim.

The court, in its order, has referred to a Police Intelligence Report and the activities that transpired during the trial against Nasheed at Hulhumalé Magistrate Court. The court has ordered police to arrest Nasheed ‘as soon as possible’.

Sun reporter at the scene says that confrontations are taking place between members of the public and the police. Police have used pepper spray to restore order.

The reason for his arrest, as stated in the order issued by Criminal Court, is that he might attempt to hide and fail to appear in court for the terrorism charges filed by the state.