Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla has stated there is no longer any tolerance for abuse in prisons.
Responding to questions at the Parliament of the Maldives, Minister Imran said there are no longer any cases of prisoner abuse in the country. The minister noted two or three cases of prisoner abuse have been reported since his appointment and said the prison officials involved have either been dismissed or de-ranked. One of the issues the government focused on solving was the problem of abuse and torture at prisons and that the ministry is continuing to implement the recommendations proposed in the prison audit report, he said.
Furthermore, Minister Imran said the ministry will re-investigate the death of prisoner Ismail Sabeen with the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) and that currently there is no evidence of neglect by prison officials. The minister also said the reports show prison officials are diligent in providing the prescribed medications for prisoners as well as transferring them to medical facilities when needed. In this regard, he said prison officials have transferred some prisoners to medical facilities 40 times in one year.
Minister Imran also gave details on the work being done to expand health services available at prisons and said two specialists have now been placed at prison medical centres. The minister said the government will continue to add more specialists as well as provide resources to establish rehabilitation programmes at the prisons.