MCS ordered to reinstate prison guard fired for “negligence”

Civil Court has ordered Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) to reinstate prison guard Prison Lance Corporal Ali Abdulla from K. Maafushi – who was fired on January 22, 2014 for negligence that allegedly resulted in prisoners escaping on two occasions.

Ali Abdulla said that there had been no lawful reason why he was fired, and sued MCS for the position he was in when fired, and for full payment of salary and allowances from the day he was fired to the day he is reinstated – in bulk.

Civil Court made its decision regarding the case on May 12.

The court ruled that though MCS claimed that prisoners escaped due to Ali Abdulla due to his negligence, the institution had failed to back their claims with evidence. And that the documents submitted as evidence did not prove that Ali Abdulla violated the civil service code of conduct.

The judge presiding over the case noted that Ali Abdulla was fired 19 months after the prisoners escaped. And that he was fired without having any disciplinary measures taken against him.

The judge noted that he was fired from his post over a “suspicion”.

He said that such suspicions needed to be investigated and proved before anyone is removed from their post.

Civil Court ruled that Ali Abdulla was still an employee of MCS as he was fired in violation of civil service regulation and civil service code of conduct.

Court has ordered MCS to give Ali Abdulla the salary and allowances he was due for the days he remained fired illegally.

The authority has also been ordered to complete all administrative work to have Ali Abdulla reinstated to his original post within 10 days, starting from May 16.