Former Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid Appeals Arrest Warrant in Child Abuse Case

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has submitted an appeal to the High Court challenging the lower court warrant that led to his arrest on child sexual abuse allegations.

Addressing contradictory reports across local media claiming the appeal had already been admitted, the High Court clarified its case-tracking procedure, stating that the matter is currently categorized strictly as “appealed.”

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“At this stage of the case, we only update the status. The current status is appealed,” an official from the court noted. “The next status would be either register or reject. If it gets registered, the status will be updated. If it gets rejected, we will publish a report mentioning the reason for rejection.”

The procedural challenge follows a lower court’s decision to remand the 64-year-old veteran diplomat in police custody for 30 days. 

Shahid was taken into custody under a judicial warrant on Tuesday evening from his residence at the Rainbow Ocean Front apartment complex in Hulhumalé. Investigating officers searched the premises before escorting him to the Hulhumalé Police Station, after which he was transferred to the Dhoonidhoo Custodial Centre.

A police spokesperson confirmed that the allegations involve an individual under the age of 18, while declining to disclose further details citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

The legal challenge and prolonged detention come at a sensitive juncture as Shahid actively campaigns for the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) presidential ticket ahead of the 2028 election.

 The veteran diplomat previously served as Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Foreign Minister under former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, and President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Shortly before his arrest, Shahid published a statement on X unequivocally rejecting the accusations as “completely baseless lies” orchestrated as “part of a political character assassination.” His son, Yameen Shahid, also defended his father publicly, asserting that the allegations are politically motivated and calling for fairness and due process.