Nasheed: Luthfee involved in loss of multiple lives, will be extradited

Abdulla Luthfee, the mastermind behind the terror plot of November 3, 1988, is involved in loss of lives of multiple Maldivian citizens and will extradited to Maldives to face justice, says Speaker of Parliament, President Mohamed Nasheed.

The terror plot of November 3, 1988 to overthrow former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s administration killed 19 Maldivian citizens.

Luthfee was serving a life sentence for the crime when he was granted medical furlough to travel to Sri Lanka on January 16, 2010 - during Nasheed’s administration.

He had been on the run for nearly a decade before surrendered himself to officials at the Maldivian embassy in Colombo on May 1 amid security sweeps in the country following the Easter bombings on April 21.

In answer to a question posed by a reporter regarding Luthfee at a press conference this Sunday, Nasheed said; “Abdulla Luthfee is within the hearts of many Maldivians in connection to many, many very, very, very, sad tragedies. The deaths of many, the loss of many, and the fear and troubles of many”.

Nasheed said that extradition of a fugitive such as Luthfee would be a top priority to any administration. He said that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration would do everything in its power to extradite Luthfee.

Nasheed also spoke of the emergency motion presented to the Parliament over Luthfee’s extradition. He said that the Home Minister Sheikh Imran Abdulla has been served 14-day notice for questioning by the Parliament, but that he expected Luthfee to be extradited before the 14 days are up.

Maldives Police Service and Maldives Correctional Service was issued a court order by Criminal Court in 2012 to locate and arrest Luthfee, and ensure he serves his prison sentence.

Meanwhile, Maldives Police Service announced this Sunday that the Commissioner of Police, Mohamed Hameed (MC Hameed) has ordered the Professional Standards Command of Police for an investigation into why no action was taken to extradite Luthfee despite senior police officials being briefed on credible information regarding the Luthfee’s whereabouts on multiple occasions from 2012 to 2016.