COLOMBO — Police in the Maldives arrested former president Mohamed Nasheed on Monday after he twice failed to appear before a court to face charges that he illegally ordered the arrest of a judge while in office. Nasheed, who has said the military ousted him from office in a coup earlier this year, was arrested while campaigning for next year's elections. His arrest could trigger protests by his supporters who have previously clashed with police in the Indian ocean archipelago and who say the charges against him are politically motivated. Police spokesman Hasan Haneef said Nasheed was arrested on Fares-Mathoda island, in the Gaaf Dhaal atoll, around 440 km away from the capital Male on Monday and was being brought to Male by boat. “He is in police custody in order to be produced before courts on Tuesday,” Haneef added. On Sunday, Hulhumale magistrate court issued an arrest warrant on Nasheed after he twice defied summons to appear before courts. The same courts, two weeks ago, ordered him not to leave the capital, Male, without the court's permission. Nasheed defied that order too. Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party condemned the arrest, saying it was politically motivated. “The police used disproportionate force to arrest Nasheed. They landed on this tiny island dressed in full SWAT gear and carrying weapons. They behaved aggressively, and sometimes violently, towards Nasheed's supporters,” said Ahmed Naseem, former foreign affairs minister in Nasheed's government, in a release issued by the party. Police came in speed boats, and coast guard vessels were also seen near the island. Except for two police media officials, all the policemen were in full riot gear, fully masked with tear gas guns, it said, adding that Naseem and Nasheed's ex-press secretary were pepper sprayed and dragged from the house. — AP
