Commissioner of Prisons Abdulla Munaz has stated the discord in Maafushi Prison has been resolved.
Speaking at press conference, Prisons Commissioner Munaz said the discord in the largest prison in the country began after some inmates had a confrontation with prison officers. The commissioner said efforts were made to ease the unrest by advising the inmates, adding that pepper spray was used against some inmates on the third successive day of unrest.
Munaz said the confrontation came from some inmates in a particular cell block. He added the prison now operates normally with all issues resolved.
Previously, the prisons commissioner had attributed the discord in Maafushi Prison to attempts to stop smuggling items in to the facility. Munaz said phones, sim cards, drugs and other possible assault items are smuggled in to the facility. He said efforts are underway to improve the security of the prisons in the country.
National Integrity Commission (NIC) and Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) have visited Maafushi Prison for inquiries following the unrest.