Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) leader Mohamed Nasheed’s hearing had to be cancelled on Wednesday as the state was unable to produce him in court.
The former president’s hearing was put on the court agenda on March 29 – however as the court was unable to deliver the summon, the hearing had to be cancelled.
Nasheed, who sought refuge in the United Kingdom after leaving the country citing medical reasons while he was serving a 13-year jail sentence on terrorism charges, is currently in Sri Lanka. Nasheed along with top officials of MDP, continues to carry out political activities there.
Nasheed was given 13-years of imprisonment on terrorism charges for the abduction and the illegal detention of criminal court’s chief judge Abdulla Mohamed during his presidency.
The new charge Nasheed is facing is the illegal detention of incumbent president Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayoom on July 14, 2010. During Nasheed’s presidency, he held president Yameen in ‘custody’ at the presidential retreat ‘Aarah’ in Kaafu atoll for nine days.
Yameen was released after the apex court issued a ruling stating that now-president was being held captive illegally.
Nasheed’s defence minister Ameen Faisal is also being charged for the illegal detention of president Yameen.
Nasheed has not returned to Maldives since January last year. Many top officials of the main opposition is also currently living abroad in self-exile.
