Maldives Police Service (MPS) has blamed incomplete administrative documents for the delay in bringing back Abdulla Luthufee to Maldives. Luthufee will be brought to the country as soon as Sri Lankan police completes the necessary documents, according to MPS.
MPS revealed a special team from Maldives is working with Sri Lankan authorities regarding the matter. Luthufee was brought under custody after he surrendered to the Maldives Embassy in Sri Lanka on May 1. However, the government refrained from commenting on the matter until last week.
On June 25, Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed relevant authorities were informed once Abdulla Luthufee, who led the November 3 1988 coup attempt on Maldives, surrendered to the Embassy of Maldives in Sri Lanka. The Government of Maldives has been criticised over the failure to publicise the information regarding Abdulla Luthufee following his surrender.
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 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.
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 was completing a 25-year sentence when he travelled to Sri Lanka for medical treatment and escaped in 2010.