Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed relevant authorities were informed once Abdulla Luthufee, who led the November 3 1988 coup attempt on Maldives, surrendered to Embassy of Maldives in Sri Lanka.
The government has been criticised over the failure to publicise the information regarding Abdulla Luthufee following his surrender on May 1.
In a statement, the foreign ministry said Abdulla Luthufee came by himself to the Embassy of Maldives in Sri Lanka on May 1 and revealed his desire to come under the custody of the Government of Maldives. The ministry revealed the relevant authorities were immediately informed.
The ministry detailed since then efforts began to bring Luthufee to Maldives in accordance with the laws and regulations. However, the foreign ministry said challenges are faced in bringing him back to country due to the nature of the case. In this regard, the ministry highlighted the government must complete certain international procedures as an Interpol red notice was issued on his capture.
Adding Luthufee was living in Sri Lanka without a valid visa and tried securing asylum from the country alleging human rights grounds, the ministry said Sri Lankan law requires the Maldivian Government to follow certain procedures too.
Moreover, highlighting the decision of the previous administration to withdraw from The Commonwealth created doubt over the validity of the prisoner exchange agreement between Maldives and Sri Lanka, the foreign ministry stated further complications are faced as Luthufee surrendered in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka last April.
The ministry assured despite the challenges, efforts have been launched to bring him back to the country. The ministry revealed he is under the custody of Maldives Police Service, reiterating efforts will continue to extradite Luthufee to Maldives.
Luthufee will be brought to Maldives within the next 48 hours, according to Commissioner of Maldives Police Service Mohamed Hameed.
Luthufee led an attempted coup in Maldives on November 3, 1988, assisted by the armed mercenaries of Tamil secessionist organisation in Sri Lanka, the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE). The attack martyred 19 Maldivians.
Over the attack, Luthufee was charged with conviction for treason and sentenced to death. However, the death penalty was lowered to imprisonment for life under the commutations during the presidency of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Luthufee fled the country when he was sent abroad for medical treatment during the presidency of former President Mohamed Nasheed. Since then, he has been on the run and never returned to Maldives.
The return of Luthufee to Maldives raises several questions as the matter is a delicate subject for many Maldivians.