Maldives Correctional Service has today commenced a rehabilitation programme for inmates at Asseyri Prison.
“The Programme of Rehabilitation and Re-integration for the Treatment of Recidivism” is being conducted as part of Maldives Correctional Service’s efforts to fulfill the Government’s promise to discourage people from a life of crime and offending repeatedly as well as to help foster a decent life for those who reintegrate into the society.
The Programme was inaugurated by Chief of Staff of the President’s Office Mr Ali Zahir. While speaking at the ceremony, Mr Zahir stated that humans often err and the best of them are the ones who quickly reform, pledge never to err again and stick to the pledge. He also said that the Government’s wish is to provide a platform for criminals to reform via rehabilitation programmes and to free as many of them as possible as people who are beneficial to the community.
During his speech Commissioner of Prisons, Abdulla Munaz said that convicts should view being in prison today as a test from Allah almighty, be determined to steer clear of crime and to become a useful individual to your family and community and hope to live their lives as upstanding citizens. The Commissioner stated that the programme commenced due to the hard work of Asseyri Prison’s officers and the advice and instructions given by Minister of Home Affairs Honourable Imran Abdulla despite the challenges of the working environment was very valuable to the programme. He also said that the aim of the programme is to bring a positive change to the behaviour of convicts, to teach them to trust themselves and to release as many reformed convicts as possible that would continue to live a decent and respectable life.
The programme curriculum includes rehabilitation classes followed by learning a skill which would be useful for them to earn a living; such as house wiring, welding and refrigeration and so forth.
Chief of Staff of the President’s Office Mr Ali Zahir said that those who complete the seven-month programme will have a better chance for parole or clemency.
The Rehabilitation programme was designed with the expertise of Mr Adinaraina R. Subramaniam, a consultant from Malaysia and will be conducted under the leadership of SP Mohamed Shaheen Ali, Director of Asseyri Prison. The programme facilitators include senior officers of Asseyri Prison and few civil officers of Maldives Correctional Service. The programme is designed to include three modules -rehabilitation, reintegration and education.
