Senior warden remanded in prison scandal

THE CRISIS at the Nicosia Central Prison deepened yesterday as the security inspector of the prison was arrested and then remanded in custody in connection with the recent find of contraband in a staff locker.

The inspector is the third senior warden to be remanded by the courts after a sergeant and a corporal were also arrested and remanded for six days on Friday.

In the staff locker along with the 11 mobile phones, chargers and batteries, a screwdriver with nine adaptable tips, pliers and various other tools were also found.

The police say that they are still searching for 160 other mobile phones that have been allegedly sold to convicts by prison guards.

The senior inspector who is the latest suspect to be arrested is the head of security of Block 1A in the prison. Block 1A is where convicts serving longer sentences are kept and it is also the block where the 11 mobile phones and various contrabands were found.

The 58-year-old inspector was led to court without handcuffs yesterday morning. The court heard he was implicated in the scandal after police found his DNA on one of the 11 phones.

Speaking through his lawyer at the hearing the inspector said that he was completely innocent and had no knowledge whatsoever about the case. However the courts issued a six day remand for the suspect.

Speaking to Sigma TV an ex-convict who has recently been released from prison claims to have spent more than € 17,000 in five-and-a-half years in prison in order to obtain cell phones and chargers. The ex-convict also revealed that he intends to testify in court about his contacts within the prison.

Police spokesman Michael Katsounotos said: “The convict that spoke to Sigma last night will be thoroughly interviewed by police. Along with him all the convicts and guards in Block 1A will be interviewed. We will leave no stone unturned.”

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