Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan says if an inmate dies while under the custody of Maldives Correctional Services, the body of the prisoner would only be handed over to his/her family after a postmortem.
He said this during a press conference held to give the latest update on the death of an inmate in Maafushi jail yesterday.
Mohamed Jameed, 45, was found collapsed in his cell in Maafushi jail yesterday when prison officials checked his condition when he did not come out of his cell. He was declared dead at the Health Center in Maafushi.
Online users accused the authorities of torturing the inmate after photos of Jameel taken after he died popped up online. The pictures showed signs of physical harm on the body of the deceased.
Refuting such claims, Minister Ihusan said that from now on postmortem would be performed for any inmate who dies under custody.
The Minister said that prisoners are allowed to stand in worship for a long time in their cells and that prison officers would check their condition even if they are standing or sitting for worship.
Jameel is believed to have passed away while he was prostrating during prayers and footage shared by authorities today showed that he had stayed in the position for several hours.
Police said that the position of his body during his death would explain why his body showed the signs of discoloration.
