Prison officers whose names have surfaced during the Coroner's Court inquest into the deadly prison break of January 17 are either still working at Her Majesty's Prison or are on "vacation", officials claim.
At a press conference yesterday Prison Superintendent Dr Elliston Rahming stated that names have also been forwarded to the police as allegations of corruption and abuse continue to arise surrounding the case.
Shortly following the capture of Forrester Bowe and Barry Parcoi, two of the inmates who escaped in the early morning prison break, photographs appeared on the Internet showing inmates lying in pools of blood – allegedly beaten by prison officers.
When asked about the allegation of continued abuse against the inmates involved in the escape attempt, Dr Rahming said: "We have a very definite stand against brutality towards inmates. 'There is no compromise as far as that is concerned. Whenever we have a case where that is the case, immediate and swift action is taken to deal with it.
"As a matter of fact, we have an incident where six months ago, an inmate was beaten. That staff member has been referred to the police.
That is our position," he said. When asked about the possibility of improving wages at the prison to deter possible bribery and corruption, Dr Rahming said that such matters were beyond his authority.
He said that wages and the like would be a ministerial item that is beyond him. He added, however, that he has advised that prison officers' salaries be on par with their counterparts in the other branches of the armed services.
Source: ļ¾ Paul Turnquest, The Tribune
