A court has remanded former Foreign Minister and former MDP President Abdulla Shahid in custody for 30 days in connection with allegations of sexually abusing a minor under the age of 18. Police confirmed today that the remand order was issued after he was presented before the court to determine his detention status.
The 64-year-old senior politician was arrested from his residence in Hulhumale under a court warrant last night at around 21:59. As news of police entering his home broke across local media, Shahid took to the social media platform X to reject the accusations before officers took him into custody.
In his post, Shahid stated, "The politically motivated stories being spread to assassinate my character are baseless lies," urging the public to refrain from circulating unverified claims. Despite his denial, police carried out the arrest approximately 30 minutes after the statement was published online.
The detention comes as Shahid prepared to contest the upcoming presidential primary of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). The serious allegations have sent shockwaves through the political sphere given his prominent standing within the party leadership.
Shahid is one of the country's most veteran diplomats and public servants, having served for more than 40 years across foreign policy, parliamentary governance, and international bodies, including as President of the United Nations General Assembly. Police have stated that the investigation into the allegations remains ongoing.