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Former UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid has been remanded in custody for 30 days following his arrest over allegations of sexually abusing a minor under the age of 18.
Mariyam Adheela
Former UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid
MALE’: Former President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and former Maldivian foreign minister Abdulla Shahid has been remanded in custody for 30 days after being arrested over allegations of sexually abusing a minor, according to local media reports.
Police said Shahid was arrested at around 10 p.m. on Monday in connection with the case. The allegations remain unproven, and Shahid has denied the accusations.
Shahid, who previously served as president of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has rejected the allegations, describing them as false claims being circulated for political purposes.
In a statement, he urged the public not to spread unverified allegations against him.
“The stories being spread politically to tarnish my character are completely baseless lies,” Shahid said, calling on people to refrain from circulating unsubstantiated claims.
Shahid is contesting the upcoming MDP presidential primary. He previously served as foreign minister under two administrations and presided over the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
A veteran diplomat, Shahid served as foreign minister during the administration of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and later under the MDP-led government.
