|
Inmates smuggle forbidden items
By SHEILA LASIBORI
CORRECTIONAL Services officers admitted
prohibited items such as marijuana and bolt cutters, which could aid a
breakout, are being smuggled into prison cells.
There are suggestions this is happening with the help of warders, and a
senior officer in Bomana, the country’s largest prison where contrabands
have been found in cells, has warned of dismissal if they are found
helping detainees smuggle forbidden items into the institution.
Acting jail commander for the Bomana institute Supt Kiddy Keko confirmed
prohibited items such as bolt cutters and illicit drugs (marijuana)
entered the institute undetected.
“I have heard rumours and sooner or later, I will search all officers
entering the gates (into the detention units),” Mr Keko said, adding
that officers found guilty of aiding detainees smuggle such items would
face possible dismissal.
He said a search on Dec 29 last year resulted in the confiscation of a
bolt cutter and some rolls of marijuana.
This, he said, had resulted in strict orders issued for proper search
and checks on visitors and detainees, who left the institute to receive
medical treatment or do community work.
But deputy commissioner (corporate services) Giru Moihau is adamant that
officers are not involved in the contrabands he describes as “part of a
network”.
“It is very hard. It is going on but not at a big scale. It is hard to
detect. It is like a network,” Mr Moihau said.
Mr Keko said visitors to the institute were thoroughly checked and the
inmates – returning to the institute or being brought in for the first
time – were stripped and checked before they entered their cells.
He also said some detainees, in their efforts to smuggle the items into
their units, hid the items, especially marijuana, in their anus.
 
|
