The police service stated that Abdulla Luthufee, who led the 1988 coup attempt, is under its care in Sri Lanka.

Luthufee was sentenced to life in prison for masterminding the coup and fled Maldives in 2010 after he was given permission to travel abroad for medical treatment during former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration.

While an Interpol red notice was issued in the attempt to locate Luthufee, he turned himself in at the Maldivian Embassy in Colombo in May, the police stated.

Luthufee was initially sentenced to death, which was reduced to life imprisonment by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom.

The attempted coup on November 3, 1988, by a Sri Lankan militant group led to the death of 19 Maldivians.