MALE: A Maldives court on Monday issued second warrant to arrest former President Mohamed Nasheed, five days after he sought refuge inside the Indian High Commission as police attempted to arrest him in connection with a court case, police said.
The 45-year-old Nasheed, the Maldives’ first democratically elected leader, was ousted in February last year in a coup backed by Islamists and loyalists of former dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
The latest arrest warrant comes after Nasheed failed to attend the last two scheduled trial hearings on February 10 and February 13.
Nasheed, leader of Maldivian Democratic Party, took refuge in the Indian High Commission on February 13 to escape arrest warrant issued by a court in a case concerning the detention of Chief Judge of the Criminal Court during his Presidency in January last year.
On Sunday, the Maldivian Government summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Male D M Mulay, reportedly the first time that a High Commissioner has been summoned by the Maldivian Foreign Ministry.
“We have received the court order to arrest Nasheed,” Police spokesman Hassan Haneef said. “We will follow international protocols and not go inside the high commission.”
The new warrant calls for police to arrest Nasheed and produce him in court at 4 p.m. (4 a.m. ET) on Wednesday.
DND
