The collapse of part of the boundary wall of the archipelago's main prison in Maafushi island has sparked accusations of construction flaws and negligence.
The construction of the outer perimeter wall commenced after the steel fence which was brought in from western Australia in early 2000 collapsed.
But around 230 meters of the 1.5 kilometer wall had collapsed following strong winds on July 2.
Some of the employees used in the construction of 20 feet high eight inch wide prison wall told Mihaaru that the material used for the wall had not been suitable for a wall of that size.
The cooperative society of the Maldives Correctional Service set out to use inmates for the construction of the wall in March last year.
However, some employees said the inmates were used only for a month while prison employees had constructed 75 percent of the wall.
The biggest complaint is the use of staff with little or no expertise in masonry.
"We received no additional allowances. We had to put in eight hour shifts and then immediately report for construction. Most of the staff were exhausted and many had called in sick. That had affected the duty roster," an employee used in the wall construction lamented.
"An excavator was not even brought in and they used the staff instead."
According to the staff, around MVR3 million had been budgeted for the wall. But questions have now been raised whether the entire funds had been utilized.
"Someone is at fault here," an employee said.
Correctional service has refused to comment over the staff complaints but the prison spokesperson insisted that a special review has been launched.
"We we look into why the wall collapsed. Then we will change the construction work if needed," spokesperson said.
The wall had collapsed around the special protection unit where high-profile inmates are held including former vice president Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor.
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