Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) has transferred 200 inmates from Male' Prison to other prisons.
The government has made the decision to relocate inmates from Male' Prison to other correctional facilities due to space constraints. The move is being prompted by the ongoing construction of the new Dharumavantha School building within the premises of Male' Prison. MCS has informed that 200 inmates have already been transferred to prisons in Hulhuamale', Maafushi, and Himmafushi. The remaining 20 inmates will also be relocated in accordance.
The Male' Prison opened in September 2003 as a remand centre. However, new cells were built inside the prison and people were kept in long-term detention since 2006. For the past four years, an area of the prison has been used to house the elderly, individuals on medication for long-term illnesses and those who need special assistance in custody.
Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla has noted that the state of the country's prisons was in poor condition at the time the current government assumed office. He said the government has undertaken substantial efforts to enhance the conditions within these correctional facilities in response. In addition, he said one of the most significant challenges encountered is the shortage of space, a concern that has been actively addressed through initiatives aimed at expanding the available space within the prisons.