Male: Former Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid has been arrested over allegations of sexually abusing a minor, according to local media reports.
Shahid, 64, was arrested at 9:59 pm on Monday under a court warrant on suspicion of sexually abusing a person under the age of 18, the Sun English edition reported, citing a statement by the Maldives Police Service.
The Edition media portal also reported Shahid's arrest, saying police confirmed that he had been taken into custody under a court order and that an investigation was underway.
Police have not disclosed further details about the allegations against Shahid, the report said.
Minutes before his arrest, Shahid said in a post on X that defamatory claims being made against him were untrue and urged people to refrain from spreading what he described as unfounded rumours, according to The Edition.
Shahid was reportedly arrested from his residence at Rainbow Ocean Front in Hulhumale' and initially taken to the Hulhumale' Police Station before being transferred to the police custody centre in Dhoonidhoo, the portal reported.
The arrest comes as Shahid is campaigning for the Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) presidential ticket for the 2028 election. He had announced his intention to contest the party's presidential primary and had been travelling to various islands as part of his campaign, according to Raajje.mv media portal.
Shahid, one of the Maldives' most prominent politicians, has served twice as foreign minister -- from 2007 to 2008 under then-president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and from 2018 to 2023 under former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
He also served as Speaker of the People's Majlis from 2009 to 2014 and was elected president of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in June 2021.
Shahid joined the MDP in 2013 and became its president in February 2024. He stepped down from the post in August this year to contest the party's presidential primary for the 2028 election, according to the Sun English edition.
He began his public service career at the Maldives' Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1984 and has held several diplomatic and political positions during a career spanning more than four decades.
In 2021, Shahid was conferred the Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin, the Maldives' highest state honour, in recognition of his national and international service, The Edition reported.