Passport hasn

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has refuted rumours circulated by media that his passport had been withheld by the authorities.

Nasheed made this statement while speaking at a gathering of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) at Addu City’s Equatorial Convention Centre to mark the end of MDP’s campaign trip to the south, Journey of Pledges, last night.

“My passport is with me, it hasn’t been taken from me,” he said.

The Department of Judicial Administration said yesterday that Hulhumale’ Magistrate Court ordered to withhold Nasheed’s passport, on the same day that it ordered the Police to detain him in order to produce him in Court.

Nasheed challenged the Hulhumale’ Court’s travel ban issued against him earlier, and departed from Male’ on MDP’s campaign trip to the south.

The trial against Nasheed for arresting Chief Judge of Criminal Court Abdullah Mohamed is currently in progress.

Nasheed, while he was President and Commander-in-Chief, issued an illegal order to Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) to arrest Judge Abdullah at midnight on 17 January 2012. Judge Abdullah was detained in K. Girifushi until 7 February 2012.

Nasheed has denied the charges, despite the evidence presented in Court by the State against him.

The next session of the trial is scheduled for 4 November. Nasheed will return to Male’ today after completing the campaign trip to the south.