Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed has asked Professional Standards Command to investigate why convicted terrorist, Abdulla Luthufee, who has been living in Sri Lanka for the past 9 years, was not previously brought back to Maldives.
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.
In a statement, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said 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.
In a statement, Maldives Police Service has said Commissioner Hameed has asked Professional Standards Command to investigate why the most dangerous terrorist Maldives had seen in recent history was not previously brought back to the country, when the state has received reports in 2012 and 2016 on the location of Luthufee but no attempts were made for his arrest.
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. In 2014, during the presidency of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Interpol issued a red notice and the government issued a reward on information for his immediate capture.
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.