Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) has revealed harmful sharp objects were found in some units of Maafushi prison.
Ministry of Home Affairs launched a search operation in Maafushi Prison to ensure dangerous and illegal items are not in the possession of the inmates. As part of the efforts, officers from MCS searched the remand quarters of the prison. The search operation was conducted from 1530 hours to 1830 hours on Sunday.
Speaking to PSM News, a media official from MCS said mobile phones, sharp items that can be used as weapons and illegal objects were found during the search operation, adding all such objects have now been confiscated by the correctional service.
The search operation was conducted with video and audio recording and the cells were searched in the presence of the inmates, according to MCS. The units were searched in the presence of Commissioner of Prisons, Deputy Commissioner of Prisons and Inspector of Correctional Service as advised by Minister of Home Affairs.
The search operation was launched in the wake of disruption in the prison in which six inmates were injured when prison officers exerted excessive force to contain the situation last Thursday. Since then, key figures from the relevant authorities have been summoned to parliament for questioning.
Further, the commander on duty when the incident took place has been placed under suspension. In retaliation to the way the incident was handled by the prison officers, inmates have damaged CCTV cameras in the prison and threatened the officers, with several of the guards hesitating to enter the prison or deal with the inmates.