Maldives Correctional Service has said that 90 people who need to be taken to jail cannot be taken due to lack of space.

At today's meeting of the Parliament's Petition Committee, Deputy Commissioner of Prisons Ibrahim Mohamed Didi, responding to a question from a committee member, said that the lack of space in prisons is a big problem.

Member for Hinnavaru Constituency Mohamed Abdurrahman, who asked about people sentenced to jail but not taken under Correctional Service, said that a youth from Hinnavaru sentenced to jail by the Hinnavaru Court has Hinnavaru Court has been under police custody for many days without being taken to jail.

"We have such a case in our island, we've been dealing with this for a long time, the youth is now in N. Manadhoo jail, in custody there, and not getting the rights he should, he's alone there and mentally very affected, he calls and cries, asking to be transferred to jail as he's been sentenced," he said.

The member then asked why there are so many such cases where people sentenced are not taken to jail.

Responding, the Deputy Commissioner said that over 70 people are under police custody on remand without being taken to jail, and 22 people sentenced to jail are under police custody.

"This is also the biggest war between Maldives Police and us, we're talking to the police and bringing them to Male' and taking them, the biggest challenge in this was when a jail in Male' had to be closed, space wasn't created," he said.

He also said that they are consulting with Home Minister Ali Ihsaan to solve this issue.