The Criminal Court order to arrest Abdulla Shahid — former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) president and the party's presidential candidate for the upcoming presidential election — on suspicion of sexually abusing a child has been appealed to the High Court.
Shahid was arrested last Monday under a court order at his apartment in Rainbow Oceanfront, Hulhumalé, on suspicion of sexually abusing a child under 18. When he was produced before the court for a decision on remand, the court ordered him held for 30 days.
The remand order was appealed yesterday, but the High Court has not yet decided on the appeal. Because the remand order has not been published on the court's website and police have also not released further information, the precise details of the allegations against him remain unclear.
Shahid, who has held senior state posts including former foreign minister, had earlier denied the allegations against him in full in a social media post shortly before his arrest. He said the claims were baseless stories being spread for political purposes to damage his reputation.
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