Abdulla Luthufee, the mastermind behind the most dangerous terrorist attacked Maldives faced, has been brought back to the country by Maldives Police Service.
Luthufee was accompanied by Maldivian police officers and travelled from Sri Lanka on flight EK653. He would be handed over to Maldives Correctional Service to complete the remaining 4 years of his 25-year jail sentence, according to the police.
In November 1988, 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. In 2010, Luthufee fled when he was sent to India 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.
Luthufee was apprehended and brought back to Maldives after he evaded the authorities and went in to hiding in Sri Lanka. Over the past 9 years, Maldivian authorities had come close to capture him, most notably in 2014 and 2016.
In a press conference held last Thursday, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had branded Luthufee as a traitor to the country and the most dangerous criminal Maldives had ever known. He assured Luthufee would not be pardoned and would complete his life sentence in jail.