Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed has requested an investigation into the previous government’s inaction on the extradition of Abdulla Luthufee, the leader of the 1988 coup.

In a press release, the police service stated that the government knew of Luthufee’s whereabouts from 2012-2016 but failed to take action.

Therefore, the Police Commissioner has ordered the professional standards command to investigate this issue.

The police service also stated that they have discussed Luthufee’s extradition process at various times with Sri Lankan police force’s executive inspector general and crime investigation department and that a team of Maldives police officers are also with Luthufee.

Luthufee, who was given a life sentence for leading the coup, fled Maldives in 2010 after being given permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.

While an Interpol red notice was issued for his capture, he turned himself in at the Maldivian Embassy in Colombo on May 1.