Maldives says getting escaped convict back from SL difficult

The Maldivian Foreign Ministry has said that bringing the escaped convict Abdulla Luthufee back from Sri Lanka was challenging due to the nature of the case.

According to one online Maldivian news site, Luthufee, who was involved in the 1988 attack on the Maldives, had expressed the desire to turn himself into the Maldivian Government at the Maldives Embassy in Sri Lanka.

A statement issued by the Maldivian Foreign Ministry said that they have been working with the Sri Lankan authorities from the moment they were notified of the arrest on how best to bring him back to the country.

However, due to the nature of the case, there are challenges in regards to the custody of the Maldivian Government.

The Ministry said that certain procedures need to be met as an Interpol Red Notice was issued as Luthufee was living in Sri Lanka as a fugitive without a valid visa and had attempted to gain asylum under human rights.

To do this, you have to go through certain procedures and the added obstruction was that he wanted to turn himself in after the tragic bombing in Sri Lanka.

The Foreign Ministry said that they are working to bring him back to the Maldives despite these challenges and Luthufee is currently in the custody of the Maldives Police Service.

The statement said that they would continue their efforts to bring him back after completing the procedures within the laws and regulations of both the Maldives and Sri Lanka.