Officer and prisoners injured in violence at Maafushi Prison

A prison officer and two prisoners were injured during an episode of violence at Maafushi Prison on Wednesday.

Maldives Correctional Service told Sun that prisoners of a cell attempted to assault a prisoner officer when the prison officer entered the cell for an inspection.

The officer and two prisoners were injured during the altercation that followed, Corrections said.

All three who were injured were immediately treated for their injuries.

“The incident was prompted by anger during a cell inspection. But this is something that happens almost every day during inspection of prison cells. If it is a prison, such incidents will happen,” Corrections said.

Corrections noted that prison officers, by law, are allowed to use force in such instances.

In this regard, Corrections said prison officers used force to control the prisoners during today following the attempt to assault their fellow prison officer.

Photos depicting alleged assault of some prisoners are presently viral on social media.

Corrections said they were unable to confirm whether the photos related to today’s incident.