Inmates create unrest in prison by communicating with politicians: Home Ministry

Ministry of Home Affairs has said that inmates often smuggle phones into prisons, and attempt to create unrest by communicating and cooperating with politicians.

Head of Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Service and Minister of State for Home Affairs Mohamed Fayaz told Sun Online in an interview, that the government is investigating the crimes conducted by prisoners by smuggling phones; and that it is known that they communicate with politicians, members of parliament and senior officials of the government.

He expressed disappointment that senior officials of the government communicate with inmates, when they are aware of the fact that it is prohibited to answer calls from prisoners.

Fayaz said that inmates obtain phones and other equipment from their guardians and prison security staff. He said that prison security staff do this in exchange for money, and that action had been taken against several of them.

He noted that it is extremely dangerous for inmates to have phones, and that they organise crimes such as theft by contacting people on the outside.

“I know of one person who communicated with youngsters, organised for them to steal, sell the stolen items, and hand over the money to his wife,” he said.

Fayaz told Sun Online earlier that on average, two or three phones are seized daily from inmates. He said that in addition to phones, drugs are also often smuggled into Male’ and Maafushi prisons, and that action had been taken against several inmates and prison officers caught with drugs.