Govt to built prison in Uthuru Thila Falhu, other prisons to be decommissioned

The government plans to build a prison in Uthuru Thilafalhu and decommission all other existing prisons, revealed Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan.

Speaking to Mihaaru News last Thursday, Minister Ihusaan said that the government's plan is to have one main prison and decommission the prisons in Maafushi, Himmafushi and Hulhumalé.

He detailed that the main prison will be established in Uthuru Thila Falhu, currently used by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). The minister further explained that the prison's capacity would be 3,000. While having so many people in prison is not ideal, he emphasized the need to reintegrate prisoners back into society with a proper correctional facility.

While the ministry is now in the process of getting the facility's design ready, Minister Ihusaan said that it would be completed within three years, and would be equipped with an office space, staff accommodation and other facilities.

He also highlighted that while the current facilities lack mental health treatments for those who are imprisoned, the new prison would have a dedicated mental health care facility.

He said the central prison would also prevent entry of contraband such as phone and drugs into the prison campus.

Addressing the issue of phones, the minister said that the current jammers block all cell towers, causing issues for the public. They are now working on finding a way to jam specific areas to avoid these problems.

He also said that while it is possible to identify the location of phones with modern technology, Maafushi Prison is not built to those standards.

"The solution for this comes once a central prison is built. We have now received permission to build a central prison at the tip of Uthuru Thila Falhu and are working to start the reclamation process. Once it's started and done, we'll move everyone to one prison and make it a facility that meets international standards, with security features that prevent these incidents," he said.

"A permanent solution would come about then. [When that happens], Maafushi Prison, Himmafushi Prison and Hulhumalé Prison will be closed."