Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) has reopened Annex 1 of Male' Prisons after renovations.
Annex 1 was reopened by Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla after it was renovated to meet international standards. The renovation saw major changes to the remand jail.
Speaking at the function, Minister Imran said the cells would house fewer inmates and the prison has arranged for inmates the opportunity to exercise outside. He said the renovation is a small part of the major changes the administration intends to bring to MCS and its facilities. The walls of the cells, toilets and the beds have been freshly painted when it reopened.
Annex 1 was initially used as a remand centre when it opened in 2003 for temporary detention of convicts transferred to Male' from Maafushi Prison or those sentenced to exile. Additionally, the centre was also used to house individuals sentenced to house arrests who have no one to receive them. With the development of new cells in 2006, the prison later detained elderly convicts and inmates who needed long term medical treatment or special needs, according to MCS.
An audit revealed the cells lacked proper ventilation and became intensely hot due to the way the cells were designed. The toilets broke and inmates experienced various skins irritations and other issues. It was later closed as it was deemed unacceptable and unfit to protect human dignity.