Parliamentarian Adam Shareef Umar has submitted a motion to the parliament regarding the delay in bringing Abdulla Luthufee back to Maldives.
While submitting the motion, Parliamentarian Adam Shareef, who is a former defence minister, said the administration has been coming up with excuses and delaying bringing the most dangerous terrorist Maldives had seen in recent history. In his motion, Adam Shareef noted Luthufee has committed great crimes in an attempted coup on November 3, 1988, which resulted in the martyr of 19 Maldivians.
Luthufee led the coup assisted by armed mercenaries of Tamil secessionist organisation in Sri Lanka, the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE). 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.
Previously, 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.
Highlighting Interpol issued a red notice to capture Luthufee, during the previous administration, Adam Shareef said Sri Lankan authorities were not informed when he was brought under the custody of Maldives and was held in the embassy in Colombo.
The parliamentarian further added in respect to the actions of the administration, there is a chance Luthufee might escape once more. He accused the administration for deflecting from the problem at hand and trying to steer the blame for being unable to bring Luthufee back to Maldives.
Debating on the motion, parliamentarians backing the administration assured Luthufee would be brought back to the country as President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih supports justice and always acts upon the opinions and concerns voiced by the public. They further said past administrations had the knowledge on the whereabouts of Luthufee but failed to apprehend him.