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Maldives' ex-president arrested over judge detention

Sunday, 22 February 2015 5:26 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 22 February 2015 5:26 PM ]

Maldives' former president, Mohamed Nasheed

Police have arrested former Maldivian president, Mohamed Nasheed, in connection with allegedly illegal detention of a senior judge during his tenure.

Nasheed, who currently heads the main opposition party, was taken into custody in the capital island of Male, police said on Sunday.

According to a document signed by a senior criminal court judge, Nasheed, who was the country’s chief executive between 2008 and 2012, is being charged under anti-terrorism law.

Government minister Mohamed Shareef said the country's anti-terrorism law covers both acts or planned acts of violence and a wide range of "acts against the state.”

The former president signed an arrest warrant against Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed in 2012.

Shareef said Nasheed was arrested because the court felt he may not honor a summons to stand trial.

Nasheed, who had to resign amid an army mutiny and public protests over the judge's fate in 2012, lost the country's 2013 presidential election to the incumbent President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom.

Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party spokesman, Hamid Abdul Gaffoor, said in a statement that "Nasheed had never absconded from court, nor has taken the opportunity to flee or go into hiding."

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Maldives