The Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) has announced the closure of Male' Prison.
MCS stated the prison, located on Boduthakurufaanu Magu, has been closed in accordance with government policies and the inmates have been transferred to other prisons. The decision to close the prison was made following discussions with the relevant authorities regarding the risks to students at the nearby Dharumavantha School. MCS stated that the Male' Prison counter will remain open until January 12.
Originally established in September 2003 as a remand center, Male' Prison initially served as a temporary detention facility for individuals brought to the city for various reasons from Maafushi prison. Its functions included detaining individuals until they were sentenced to exile and transferred to an island in the Maldives, as well as housing those sentenced to house arrest with no custodian. However, in 2006, the facility underwent expansion, with the construction of new cells to accommodate individuals in long-term detention.