Three prison officers have been charged departmentally as an investigation continues into the discovery of a quantity of prohibited items at the Lusignan Prison last month.
The Ministry of Home Affairs in a press statement yesterday confirmed that the ranks were charged departmentally for neglect of duty.
The statement added that a police investigation is ongoing into the discovery and the ranks will face criminal charge/s if they are found culpable of being involved in the illegal act.
“These departmental charges will in no way prevent these officers being charged criminally if the investigations find they were involved in the illegal act,” the Ministry said.
According to the statement, Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels has since briefed Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn on the discovery which was made on November 17th.
The Ministry said that during the briefing, Samuels said that about 14.50hrs, a search was conducted on two prisoners who were transporting four bread bins during which the items were unearthed.
At the time, the prisoners were moving the bread bins from the prisoner’s kitchen to the Holding Bay.
Among the prohibited items that were discovered were 553 grammes of suspected cannabis, fifteen cartoons of cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, one phone charger and ten packs of ‘Bamboo’.
The police were called in and an investigation was launched.
“Additionally, three officers, so far, are under specific investigation with respect to this incident,” the statement added.
