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Former Maldivian Foreign Minister and ex-UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid has been arrested over allegations of sexually abusing a minor, police have said.
Mariyam Adheela
MALE’: Former United Nations General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid was arrested Monday night in connection with an allegation of sexual abuse involving a person under the age of 18, according to police.
Shahid was taken into custody at around 10 p.m., police said.
The arrest followed police activity at the apartment building where Shahid resides in Hulhumale’. Officers were seen at the premises and conducted searches inside the apartment for several hours.
Police said the arrest was linked to allegations that Shahid sexually abused a minor. The allegations have not been established in court.
Shahid, who is contesting the Maldivian Democratic Party’s presidential primary, has denied the allegations against him.
Shahid previously served as Maldives’ foreign minister and was elected president of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, becoming the first Maldivian to hold the position.
The case remains under investigation.
