Five prison officers have been charged for supplying phones, drugs, and other items to prisoners in Maafushi prison.

Thirteen prison officers were arrested on June 27 following a tip-off that corrections officers were involved in smuggling drugs and mobile phones into prisoners in Maafushi prison.

The Prosecutor General (PG)'soffice said the charges against five people involved in the case were filed in the Criminal Court yesterday. The officers charged are Jinah Abdul Raheem, Ali Hisham, Ali Nazim, Mohamed Fathom Fathuhulla, and Ali Ashfaq.

Jinnah Abdul Raheem and Ali Hisham have been charged with three counts - abuse of official position, money laundering and acquisition of unjust enrichment.

Ali Nazim, Mohammed Fathooh Fathuhulla and Ali Asfaq were charged with abuse of official position and acquisition of unjust enrichment.

The PG office said it has decided not to prosecute the other accused as there is not enough evidence to prosecute them. Police are still investigating the case and will decide whether to prosecute others after the investigation, the office said.

During the operation conducted by police, nine prison officers from Maafushi, two from Kaashidhoo, 1 from Utheemu and 1 from Male' were arrested. They remain in custody pending trial.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdullah Shareef told a news conference earlier that 18 junior level officers of the corrections department were involved in the operation and more than MVR 73.3 million had been deposited in their accounts. One of the officers has received MVR 24 million in his account within a year, he said.

Shareef said the money was deposited into the accounts of prisoners and various persons involved in the criminal environment in the city.