Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla has noted the state of Maldivian prisons have deteriorated to the extent that people completing prison sentences might come out weaker than they were before incarceration and vows to ensure to reform the prison system.
Speaking on a programme aired on PSM News, the home minister said although the objective of incarcerating convicts is rehabilitation, the environment in Maldivian prisons, while dismal, facilitates introduction of convicts into criminal activities. Home Minister Imran, who has experienced the Maldivian prison system first hand as a detainee since 2015 until his recent release just a few weeks back, said if a common man is convicted of a crime and incarcerated, it would be a rare occurrence to see him a better person on release.
Drawing from his own experience, Imran said during his tenure as the home minister the prison system would be reformed. Acknowledging prison reform would be hard work, the minister said with the advice and instruction of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, he would aim to ascertain that people walking out of Maldivian prisons after completing prison terms, would be rehabilitated.
Further, the minister noted legislative reform is also required to provide the optimal service within the prison system, in addition to training of staff and amendment of regulations.