Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) aims to rehabilitate convicts who harass and assault corrections officers though counselling and guidance, revealed Commissioner of Prisons, Abdulla Munaz.

This comes at a time reports surfaced that officers used excessive force on detainees at unit four of Maafushi Prison where a scuffle is to have broke out on Friday. Following this, the Prisons Commissioner took to Twitter, revealing that there are frequent cases when convicts assault or harass corrections officers is such manners.

Highlighting that they will do everything to ensure the protection and safety of corrections officers, Munaz revealed that their purpose is to rehabilitate such convicts through counselling and guidance in order to make them beneficial for the public in any case they are release back into society.

A scuffle reportedly broke out in the prison facility on Friday, when a detainee expressed dissatisfaction with the inadequate medical care provided and creating unrest. RaajjeMV reached out to corrections media for a comment, but was unable to get a comment at the time of publishing as the station’s calls were unanswered.

Detainees claimed that their medical rights were being hindered and they were not being allowed doctor consultations despite having asked for it.

The issue of congested prison facilities recently made the spotlight, with authorities overfilling prison facilities more than they can accommodate, following which an audit report was publicized.

The report highlighted that prisons do not have adequate facilities that guarantee human rights and other rights of convicts, some of whom claim that MCS discriminates between convicts in terms of service such as parole and clemency.

With this being said, improving the condition of prison facilities and rehabilitating convicts into better and beneficial individuals for the society, are included in the incumbent President’s electoral pledges.