A former inmate of the New Magazine Prison in Borella has made serious allegations over the violent incident at the prison on August 6, claiming that inmates were assaulted by prison officers and another group armed with iron rods.
The allegations were made by the recently bailed former inmate while addressing a media briefing organised by a prisoners’ rights group.
According to the former inmate, he was asleep when he heard a commotion before a large group arrived at their cell and began assaulting inmates.
He alleged that inmates were dragged out of their cells and subjected to severe assaults, claiming that some individuals were surrounded and beaten with iron rods until they lost consciousness.
The former inmate further claimed that he escaped serious injury by smearing blood from an injured fellow inmate on himself and pretending to be unconscious.
He also alleged that the inmate who died following the incident had been severely assaulted near the main gate of the prison.
The former inmate claimed that more than 100 people were involved in the operation, including prison officers and another group wearing different clothing and carrying iron rods.
He said several inmates injured in the incident were subsequently taken to the prison hospital and claimed that some continue to receive treatment.
The allegations differ from the initial account attributed to prison authorities that the incident resulted from a clash between two groups of inmates.
The Prisons Department said it was unable to comment further on the incident as judicial proceedings are underway. (Newswire)