Investigation remains incomplete 2 months into Luthfee’s extradition

The police report it is still investigating the case against Abdulla Luthfee - the mastermind behind the terror plot of November 3, 1988 – for evading authorities and living in hiding in Sri Lanka for nearly a decade.

The foiled terror plot of November 3, 1988 to overthrow former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s administration killed 19 Maldivian citizens; eight officers and 11 civilians.

Luthfee was originally issued the death penalty for the crime but his sentence was later commuted to a life sentence.

He went on the run after he was granted medical furlough to travel to Sri Lanka for medical treatment on January 16, 2010, but surrendered to officials at the Maldivian embassy in Colombo on May 1 amid security sweeps in the country following the Easter bombings on April 21.

He was extradited to Maldives on July 9.

In response to a question by Sun regarding the progress of the investigation against Luthfee, a police spokesperson said the investigation remained open, but declined to elaborate.