Luthufee to be transferred back within 48 hours

Maldives Police Service (MPS) is working to bring back Abdulla Luthufee, who led the 1988 coup attempt, within 48 hours.

Citing Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed, some media outlets reported that all relevant institutions are working together to bring him back to the country.

The commissioner said that there have been difficulties in bringing him back, as he had been living in Sri Lanka unlawfully for a long period.

While there are procedures to be followed in such cases, Hameed also said that the lack of extradition agreement between Maldives and Sri Lanka has been an obstacle to expediting his transfer as well.

Luthufee has been in hiding after being granted medial leave in 2010, during former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration. He was sentenced to life over the attempted coup.

Police said that Luthufee had presented himself to the Maldives embassy in Sri Lanka on May 1.

However, authorities had kept this secret until Monday.

Police said that Luthufee was under its “care” in Sri Lanka, a day after former Home Minister tweeted that he was living at the embassy.