In a dramatic turn of events, the Maldivian police have arrested former President Mohamed Nasheed after he twice failed to appear before a court to face charges of abuse of power while in office. The Police stormed a house in Gaaf Dhaal Atoll, and took Nasheed into custody Nasheed had not only refused to appear in court but had also ignored a travel ban restricting his movement only to Male.
The court ordered Nasheed's arrest after he questioned the legitimacy of a special court to try him on charges of abuse of power. He is facing charges of power abuse over the arrest and subsequent detention of Chief Criminal Judge Abdulla Mohamed during his last days in office. 45-year-old Nasheed, the first democratically elected president of the Indian Ocean archipelago, was forced to resign in February following protests.