Home Minister Imran Abdulla revealed that the leader behind the 1988 coup attack on Maldives, Abdulla Luthufee's location became known to Maldives Police Service in 2014, however, then Home Minister Umar Naseer had disregarded the importance of bringing Luthufee back to Maldives by informing the police that it is unimportant to apprehend Luthufee.
Minister Imran was summoned to the parliament for questioning on Monday, after Nolhivaram MP Mohamed Nasheed Abdulla filed a motion to question the minister regarding Luthufee's extradition from neighboring Sri Lanka.
Assisted by armed foreign mercenaries, Luthufee led the attacks on Maldives on 3rd November 1988 that killed 19 Maldivians. Charged and convicted for treason, Luthufee received the death penalty for his crimes. However, then President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom lightened his sentence to life imprisonment.
Luthufee was allowed to travel to neighboring Sri Lanka on 16th January 2010 for medical purposes during former president Mohamed Nasheed's administration. However, he went into hiding during the trip and has been residing in Sri Lanka for the past nine years as a fugitive.
In a recent development, Luthufee voluntarily presented himself to the Maldivian Embassy in Sri Lanka on 1st May 2019, after which he has been residing at the embassy until now. Authorities did not disclose his presence at the embassy until last Monday, after rumors that the embassy was harboring Luthufee made its rounds on social media, prompting public criticism on the matter.
While arrangements to extradite Luthufee are being made, authorities have blamed the delay in returning Luthufee back to Maldives on incomplete documentation and other processes.
Speaking at the parliament on Monday, Home Minister said the previous government of president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom undertook several efforts to locate Luthufee after he went into hiding. However, during the final stages of locating and apprehending Luthufee, Umar Naseer did not grant the permission to further pursue to manhunt, said Imran.
"The police received intel on Luthufee's whereabouts in 2014. The police did their part to locate Luthufee but during the final stage, the necessary approval was not granted by then home minister. This is what we have been informed", said Imran.
However, although the previous government was unsuccessful in bringing back Luthufee after he fled the country, the current government will bring Luthufee back to Maldives, where he will continue to serve his sentence, assured the Minister. The current setbacks in Luthufee's extradition is due to delays in receiving a document from the Defence Ministry, added Imran.
Home Minister Imran Abdulla speaking at the Parliament on Mondayd
