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Prisons Commissioner turns saviour

Coming to the rescue of some poor female prisones recently was Rumy Marzook, Commissioner General of Prisons himself who paid fines payable by a number of poor female prisoners to set them free.

The compassionate deed, rare indeed in today's world stemmed from Marzook's experiences as Prisons Chief which led to the realisation that those who are often made to languish in jail were the poor of the society, who had no money to pay their small fines to buy freedom.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Marzook pointed out that there were 402 female prisoners in the Welikada prison, out of which 105 are convicted while the rest were mere suspects.

The Commissioner General last week paid the fines due from female prisoners from his personal funds to secure their release.  "Most of these female inmates are still in prison because they cannot pay the fines to get out." Marzook had already paid a number of fines previously to get prisoners out, but wished not to elaborate.

He says that many of the convicted female prisoners are there due to drug related offences, and noted that about 100 convicted prisoners were between the ages of 29-39.

Under his new scheme to modernise the prisons here, English education will be provided to inmates.  "I hope to get voluntary teachers to overcome the problem of paying salaries", he said.

Besides that, he has already provided the Welikada female prisoners with a computer room and has computerised their part of the prison. And the women's toilets too have been given a face-lift.

And spirituality is being promoted within the prison walls. Prisoners and prison officials are given lessons in meditation.  The prisoners' rehabilitation programme includes sewing lessons and some are encouraged to write poetry within the confines of their cells.

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