Former Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, who also earlier served as President of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has been removed today from the party's National Council WhatsApp group.
A senior MDP official confirmed that Shahid has been removed from the group on the messaging app, and added that this is standard procedure in cases of this nature. They said that this is a security measure taken by the party.
Shahid was arrested on the night of November 2 on charges of child sexual abuse. He remains at the police custody centre in Dhoonidhoo as the court has placed him in remand in custody for 30 days.
Following his arrest, police issued a statement saying that Shahid had been arrested under a court order, and that he is accused of sexually abusing a minor under the age of 18 while in a position of trust.
Shahid, 64, was arrested from his residence at Rainbow Ocean Front in Hulhumale' Phase 1. He was initially taken to the Hulhumale' Police Station, and later transferred on a police speedboat to the Dhoonidhoo custody centre.
Minutes before his arrest, Shahid shared a post on social media dismissing the allegations against him as politically motivated falsehoods being spread for character assassination.
Shahid's legal team has now appealed his arrest and remand at the High Court.
Professionally, Shahid has served in diplomacy, and later, politics, for several decades.
On the international platform, Shahid has previously served as President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In the Maldives, Shahid filled the post of Foreign Minister twice, during the administrations of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Shahid also served as a parliamentarian for 23 years, having once been elected Speaker of Parliament as well.
He also served as President of the opposition MDP. He resigned from the post after announcing his intention to run in the party's primaries to secure the ticket for the upcoming 2028 presidential elections.
MDP is yet to make an official comment on Shahid's arrest and the allegations raised against him.
