CP Ahmed: MVR 20,000 spent per inmate monthly

Commissioner of Prisons Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu states that the state spends MVR 20,000 per inmate each month.

He made the remark while speaking at the closing of the basic training program of Certificate III in Custodial Management and Security, run by the Institute of Correctional Studies, on Friday night.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ahmed said an average of 64 new inmates were incarcerated each month last year, while 45 were released due to completion of their sentence or for various other reasons.

He said the Maldives Correctional Services manages an average of 1,489 inmates each year.

“Based on last year’s budget, the state has to spend MVR 20,000 per inmate each month,” he said.

Ahmed said it shows the magnitude of the state’s spending on inmates, and the objective that must be achieved.

He stressed the need to increase the number of rehab programs run in prisons.

32 inmates were released upon completion of the first prison-based rehab program last year.

Ahmed said that 22 of them showed great progress, while ten were having trouble sticking to the program. One of them was reincarcerated after re-offending.

Ahmed appealed to officers who underwent the basic training program to treat inmates with kindness and compassion.

Friday’s ceremony was attended by Home Minister Imran Abdulla, who presented the certificate and shield to the officer who topped the program.