Prosecutor General (PG), Hussain Shameem has announced that the PG office is exploring the prospects of converting prison sentences to non-custodial sentences.

Shameem stated, via Twitter on Tuesday afternoon, that converting prison sentences to non-custodial sentences could be a prospective solution to the issue of prison congestion.

While adding that the penal code authorises converting prison sentences to non-custodial sentences "wherever possible", he stated that the PG office is in discussion with the Attorney General's Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the matter.

While Shameem has addressed the issue of prison congestion, Minister of Home Affairs Sheikh Imran Abdulla has previously revealed that the prison currently has an excess of 700 detainees and that the administration is undertaking efforts to find an adequate solution by the end of 2020.

The home minister also added that while the prison to be established on Neykurendhoo island will launch next year, the correctional system will see a major overhaul.