Former President Mohamed Nasheed has been arrested by police ahead of his trial hearing at Hulhumale Magistrate Court, scheduled for 4:00pm tomorrow (March 6).
Police Spokesperson Chief Inspector Hassan Haneef confirmed that Nasheed had been arrested and taken into police custody at 1:30pm today (March 5).
We have received the order. Police have taken Nasheed into custody in order to produce him at Hulhumale Magistrate Court 15 hours from now, Haneef told Minivan News.
Photos of the arrest showed several dozen police wearing balaclavas and black riot gear, several armed with rubber bullet guns, entering Nasheeds family home in Male and emerging with the former president.
Shortly after the arrest, Minivan News observed President Mohamed Waheeds brother Ali Waheed forced off his motorcycle by several dozen angry demonstrators on the main road Majeedee Magu, at the turnoff to Nasheeds house. A second, larger group pulled Ali Waheed to safety, abandoning his motorcycle. The first group then attacked a parked military vehicle, smashing a window.
A group of people including Nasheeds representative on the Commission of National Inquiry, Ahmed Gaha Saeed, blocked the road (main road), trying to calm the more violent protesters. One man lay down in the middle of the street.
People have waited a year since the coup and are very angry and unlikely to act reasonably. They could bring Male to a standstill, Saeed said.
Former Environment Minister Mohamed Aslam, arriving at the scene, said There is no plan. People are agitated, they are angry. There is no plan, there is just outrage.
Nasheeds latest trial hearing follows his exit from the Indian High Commission last month, after the Maldivian and Indian government came to an alleged understanding that he would be able to conduct a peaceful campaign and participate in an inclusive election.
The former president told Indian media on Sunday (March 3) that while he had ended his 11-day stay in the Indian High Commission, he was still not entirely free and feared an arrest warrant would be issued against him any day soon.
Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Spokesperson Hamid Abdul Ghafoor confirmed to Minivan News that there were Special Operation (SO) officers outside Nasheeds residence earlier today prior to his arrest.
He has been taken away to Dhoonidhoo [prison], we are still in a state of shock, Hamid said.
The former President sought refuge inside the High Commission building on February 13 after Hulhumale Magistrate Court ordered police to produce Nasheed at his trial hearing scheduled for later that day.
Nasheed has maintained that the charges against him of detaining the Chief Criminal Court judge during his final days in office are a politically-motivated effort to prevent him contesting the 2013 elections.
Nasheed spent 11 days inside the commission building before making an unannounced exit on February 23.
Following his exit from the High Commission, the Hulhumale Magistrate Court issued a travel ban to Nasheed, preventing him from leaving the country.
LIVE UPDATES: Refresh this page for updates
2:30pm: Shortly after Nasheeds arrest, Minivan News observed President Mohamed Waheeds brother Ali Waheed being pulled off his motorcycle by several dozen angry demonstrators on the main road Majeedee Magu. A second, larger group pulled Ali Waheed to safety, abandoning his motorcycle. The first group then attacked a parked military vehicle, smashing a window.
3:00pm: More people are arriving outside the City Council Building near the demonstration, nearing a hundred people or so in size. Shops in the vicinity are closed, and one man is lying down in the middle of the road, stepped over by the occasional pedestrian. People on motorcycles are stopping to look, and turning around to find another route.
3:10pm: A separate group of two dozen men are turning away traffic at the next intersection, in an apparent attempt to shut down Males main road. No sign of police presence yet. A man passes through the blockade with a young girl on a motorcycle, to shouts of baghee (traitor).
3:12pm: Nasheeds brother Dr Nashid tweets: given all clear to go to Dhoonidhoo [detention centre]. Waiting for Laila [Nasheed's wife]. In a second tweet, he adds that Nasheeds bodyguards were changed this morning.
3:28pm: President Waheed tweeted: Assaulting my brother Ali Waheed will not help Nasheed escape justice.
3:30pm: A pickup truck is circling Male calling on people to come out on the streets. Light rain earlier has since cleared up.
LIVE: Tension surges in Male’ as police arrest former President Mohamed Nasheed*|*Minivan News
Police Spokesperson Chief Inspector Hassan Haneef confirmed that Nasheed had been arrested and taken into police custody at 1:30pm today (March 5).
We have received the order. Police have taken Nasheed into custody in order to produce him at Hulhumale Magistrate Court 15 hours from now, Haneef told Minivan News.
Photos of the arrest showed several dozen police wearing balaclavas and black riot gear, several armed with rubber bullet guns, entering Nasheeds family home in Male and emerging with the former president.
Shortly after the arrest, Minivan News observed President Mohamed Waheeds brother Ali Waheed forced off his motorcycle by several dozen angry demonstrators on the main road Majeedee Magu, at the turnoff to Nasheeds house. A second, larger group pulled Ali Waheed to safety, abandoning his motorcycle. The first group then attacked a parked military vehicle, smashing a window.
A group of people including Nasheeds representative on the Commission of National Inquiry, Ahmed Gaha Saeed, blocked the road (main road), trying to calm the more violent protesters. One man lay down in the middle of the street.
People have waited a year since the coup and are very angry and unlikely to act reasonably. They could bring Male to a standstill, Saeed said.
Former Environment Minister Mohamed Aslam, arriving at the scene, said There is no plan. People are agitated, they are angry. There is no plan, there is just outrage.
Nasheeds latest trial hearing follows his exit from the Indian High Commission last month, after the Maldivian and Indian government came to an alleged understanding that he would be able to conduct a peaceful campaign and participate in an inclusive election.
The former president told Indian media on Sunday (March 3) that while he had ended his 11-day stay in the Indian High Commission, he was still not entirely free and feared an arrest warrant would be issued against him any day soon.
Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Spokesperson Hamid Abdul Ghafoor confirmed to Minivan News that there were Special Operation (SO) officers outside Nasheeds residence earlier today prior to his arrest.
He has been taken away to Dhoonidhoo [prison], we are still in a state of shock, Hamid said.
The former President sought refuge inside the High Commission building on February 13 after Hulhumale Magistrate Court ordered police to produce Nasheed at his trial hearing scheduled for later that day.
Nasheed has maintained that the charges against him of detaining the Chief Criminal Court judge during his final days in office are a politically-motivated effort to prevent him contesting the 2013 elections.
Nasheed spent 11 days inside the commission building before making an unannounced exit on February 23.
Following his exit from the High Commission, the Hulhumale Magistrate Court issued a travel ban to Nasheed, preventing him from leaving the country.
LIVE UPDATES: Refresh this page for updates
2:30pm: Shortly after Nasheeds arrest, Minivan News observed President Mohamed Waheeds brother Ali Waheed being pulled off his motorcycle by several dozen angry demonstrators on the main road Majeedee Magu. A second, larger group pulled Ali Waheed to safety, abandoning his motorcycle. The first group then attacked a parked military vehicle, smashing a window.
3:00pm: More people are arriving outside the City Council Building near the demonstration, nearing a hundred people or so in size. Shops in the vicinity are closed, and one man is lying down in the middle of the road, stepped over by the occasional pedestrian. People on motorcycles are stopping to look, and turning around to find another route.
3:10pm: A separate group of two dozen men are turning away traffic at the next intersection, in an apparent attempt to shut down Males main road. No sign of police presence yet. A man passes through the blockade with a young girl on a motorcycle, to shouts of baghee (traitor).
3:12pm: Nasheeds brother Dr Nashid tweets: given all clear to go to Dhoonidhoo [detention centre]. Waiting for Laila [Nasheed's wife]. In a second tweet, he adds that Nasheeds bodyguards were changed this morning.
3:28pm: President Waheed tweeted: Assaulting my brother Ali Waheed will not help Nasheed escape justice.
3:30pm: A pickup truck is circling Male calling on people to come out on the streets. Light rain earlier has since cleared up.
LIVE: Tension surges in Male’ as police arrest former President Mohamed Nasheed*|*Minivan News
