Inmate death sparks anger over prison care

The death of a detainee in Maafushi prison on Saturday has sparked anger on social media.

Ahmed Irushaad, 33, from Raa atoll Redhan died from a heart attack while serving a 25 year sentence on drug charges, confirmed a spokesman for Maldives Correctional Services.

His is the eighth custodial death within two years.

Politician Ahmed Mahloof said inmates are dying without proper care from authorities.

“Inmates don’t die in Maafushi prison, they are killed. They are killed without giving them proper care. When 10 inmates die within a year, it’s a serious issue. Commissioner Shiyan and DOP Salman have to take full responsibility. I’ve said this uncountable times while in prison,” he tweeted yesterday.

“Noticed that an unusually high amount of people are dying in jail recently. I call on HRCM to investigate this issue. People in custody should get appropriate healthcare!” tweeted former Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz.

MCS was unavailable for comment.

In October, 51-year-old May Day detainee Abdulla Rasheed died at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital after falling ill with severe diarrhoea and vomiting for three days. In August, another Maafushi inmate Ibrahim Asgar, 31,  died of unknown causes while being treated at the island’s medical centre. Mohamed Badeeu, 52, a diabetes patient, died in late July.