Former Foreign Minister and Parliament Speaker Abdulla Shahid has been removed from the Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) National Council WhatsApp group amid his ongoing detention over allegations of child sexual abuse.

According to Sun, Shahid was removed from the group on Sunday. An MDP official said the move followed the party’s standard procedure for members arrested on suspicion of criminal offences.

The Maldives Police Service announced last Monday that Shahid had been arrested under a court order in connection with allegations of sexually abusing a minor under the age of 18. He was subsequently transferred to Dhoonidhoo Custodial Prison, where the court ordered his remand for 30 days. His legal team has since appealed the remand decision before the High Court.

Prior to his arrest, Shahid took to X to reject the allegations, describing them as politically motivated character assassination and insisting they were entirely baseless. He also called on the public to refrain from circulating unverified claims.

A prominent figure in Maldivian politics, Shahid has spent more than four decades in foreign policy, parliamentary affairs and international leadership. His arrest comes as he was actively seeking the MDP’s presidential ticket.