Situation at Maafushi Prison escalated as responding officers acted unlawfully: commissioner

The situation at Maafushi Prison escalated because responding officers had acted unlawfully, says Prisoner of Commissions Abdulla Munaz.

The commissioner said this after being presented to the parliament’s committee on national security and foreign relations, along with its committee human rights and gender, on Saturday night.

The emergency meeting was held over the brawl that took place at Maafushi Prison on Thursday. While the home minister and director of prisons were also summoned, they were not able to attend the meeting.

Speaking there, Commissioner Munaz revealed that the scuffle took place in the remand jail in Maafushi Prison and that the reason for the situation escalating “is because the officers that responded to control it had acted unlawfully.”

While seven inmates are said to have been taken out of their cells during the scuffle, six were treated by the prisons doctor. They are to have sustained cuts to the arms and back, and bruises on the chest.

The commissioner said that he initially believed that the injuries were from the attempt to control the situation, but that upon initial inspection learned that they "should not have sustained injuries to such extent." Only one officer was injured, and had required “a neck brace.”

In its tweet on Thursday, MCS only mentioned the officer, saying that he was being transferred for additional treatment.

Munaz said that both officers and inmates have been questioned, and that one of the inmates had admitted to attacking an officer.

Noting that sometimes they learn of plans to cause disruption ahead of time, the commissioner insisted that this “was not planned.”

Further, the prisons commissioner said that the delay in responding to the issue was to ensure that all the procedures were followed, including informing all relevant institution; MCS’ inspector general, home ministry and the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM).

In addition to the three, Maldives Police Service (MPS) is also investigating the criminal elements in the case, while MCS conducts an “internal investigation.”

Munaz also said that in their efforts to reform the country’s prison system, that CCTV cameras have been put up in areas where such issues are prone to take place.

Earlier on Saturday, Home Minister Imran Abdulla revealed that MCS’ Emergency Support Group commander has been suspended, giving that its officers are the ones to respond to such emergencies as per the Prisons and Parole Act.