The mother of the inmate that died in prison on Friday has said that his death was due to neglect from authorities.

30-year-old Ali Abdulla (Ishan) had been serving a 25-year jail sentence on a drug trafficking conviction when he died in Maafushi Prison.

The Maldives Correctional Service said Ishan had served eight years of his term.

Ishan had a heart problem and high blood pressure, as well as psychological issues.

His mother, Soodha Saeed, told RaajjeMV that he died because authorities failed to give him the necessary medical care by neglecting to give him his medications for three months and treat him for his mental illness.

She also said that the family found out about his death from his cellmate, who had called them from a hidden mobile phone inside the cell. She said she then called the authorities, which could only confirm his death after two hours.

Correctional Service’s media official Ahmed Lugman denied the family’s claim and said that they had providing him with the necessary care up until his sudden death.

14 inmates have died in custody in the past four years. Details of their demise have not been disclosed by the Correctional Service and NGOs have failed to investigate their deaths.