Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in prison after being convicted of a terrorism charge on Friday.

The three-judge bench unanimously found Nasheed guilty of ordering the arrest of a chief judge in 2013 while he was sitting as Maldives president.

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"Nasheed is found guilty of arresting and illegally detaining judge Abdulla Mohamed," Judge Abdulla Didi said as he read the verdict before midnight. 

Nasheed was then taken to Dhoonidhoo prison, near the capital Male.

In a statement, Nasheed's office branded the trial as "blatantly politicized" saying the former president was denied of due process.

"President Nasheed was repeatedly denied legal representation, denied the right to appeal, his defence witnesses were prevented from taking the stand, and prosecution witnesses were routinely coached by the judges and the police," the office said.

The former president had been refuting allegations he ordered the judge's detention. His camp said Nasheed's arrest and the charges filed against him were all part of an effort to dislodge him from challenging incumbent President Yameen Abdul Gayoom in the 2018 presidential elections.

At the court, Nasheed accused the judges of accepting bribes from the government who had been running a dictatorial regime.  He also called on the Maldivian people to confront what he calls a tyrannical administration. 

"These judges have no fear of the day of judgment, and no shame in this world. The consequence of their actions is injustice to the public, and the thwarting of this country's development." Nasheed said.

Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said the verdict was a blow to the country's young democracy that followed three decades of rule by former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom brother of the incumbent president. 

Nasheed beat Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in 2008, Maldives' first democratically held presidential elections.

"Democracy jailed for 13 years on March 13, 2015," said MDP spokeswoman Shauna Aminath. "Nothing good will come out of this. It's a sad, sad, sad day for the Maldives," she added.

Earlier, Nasheed's lawyers quit in protest against what they say is a biased trial against their client.

Nasheed was originally cleared of the charge last month, but was re-charged and arrested under tougher anti-terror laws.

TagsMaldives, mohamed nasheed, terrorism charges, Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Dictatorship