Shahid remanded for 30 days after arrest on child sex abuse allegations

Former Maldivian foreign minister and president of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Abdulla Shahid, was remanded in jail for 30 days on Tuesday as the police investigate him on allegations of sexually assaulting a young girl.

Shahid, 64, was arrested from his apartment in Hulhumale’ at 09:59 pm on Monday. According to police, he is being investigated on allegations of sexually assaulting someone under the age of 18.

Shahid, who is being held at custodial jail in Dhoonidhoo Island, was transported to Male’ for his remand hearing on Tuesday.

According to a police spokesperson, the court remanded him in custody of the police for 30 days.

Rumors of the allegations of sexual abuse against him and his impending arrest broke out on social media platforms shortly ahead of his arrest.

In a most on X mere minutes ahead of his arrest, Shahid rejected the allegations as politically-motivated baseless lies aimed at slandering his character.

“The politically-motivated rumors being spread to defame my character are baseless lies. I urge everyone against spreading such unfounded allegations,” he wrote, half-an-hour ahead of his arrest.

އަޅުގަނޑުގެ ޝަހުސު ކަތިލުމަށް ސިޔާސީ ގޮތުން ފަތުރަމުންދާ ވާހަކަތަކަކީ އެއްވެސް އަސްލެއް ނެތް ދޮގެވެ. މިފަދަ ސާބިތު ނުހިފޭ ވާހަކަ ނުފެތުރުމަށް އެންމެ ބޭފުޅުން އަރިހުން އެދެމެވެ.

— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) November 2, 2026

Abdulla Shahid is among the country’s most prominent politicians, serving as a diplomat, government official and legislator for over four decades. His arrest comes as he campaigns for the MDP ticket to contest the 2028 presidential elections and enter the highest executive office in the country.

The Maldives has seen a rise in reported cases of sexual violence in recent years. The police investigated 272 cases of sexual assault last year, and have received reports of 239 such cases so far this year.

Those with information regarding crimes against children are urged to call the Maldives Police Service’s Family and Child Protection Department at 3000600 or the helpline 1412.