Male’ Prison Closed and Evacuated

Male’ Prison, located near the new building of Dharumavantha School, was officially closed and evacuated yesterday. The decision to shut down the prison was made last year due to concerns about its impact on the students attending Dharumavantha School, situated in front of Villa College.

The closure was prompted by the potential adverse effects the prison had on the well-being of the schoolchildren. Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) issued a statement yesterday confirming the successful evacuation and closure of Male’ Prison.

advertisement

According to Assistant Commissioner of Corrections Mohammed Asif, the evacuation process, which began last month, aimed to be completed by the start of the second term. As part of the relocation strategy, prisoners from Male’ Prison were transferred to Maafushi Prison and Asseyri prison, with necessary adjustments made to accommodate them.

Notably, the decision to vacate Male’ Prison was not a recent one. The previous government, under the leadership of Commissioner of Corrections Ahmed Mohammed, had announced plans to empty the prison starting from 2022. However, this initiative did not materialize until the change of government.

While Male’ Prison has ceased operations, it will continue to provide services to the public at the counter until the 12th of this month. Assistant Commissioner Asif highlighted that certain modifications have been implemented in the Annex One building of the corrections system to cater to prisoners requiring court appearances and medical treatments.

The closure of Male’ Prison marks a significant step in addressing concerns related to its proximity to educational institutions and underscores the commitment to prioritizing the well-being of students.