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Namibia: Smuggled Cellphones a Problem in Prisons
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The Namibian (Windhoek)
30 April 2008
Posted to the web 30 April 2008
Christof Maletsky
Windhoek
TECHNOLOGICAL advances are becoming a headache for the Ministry of Prisons, as inmates smuggle various gadgets into their cells.
Prisons and Safety Deputy Minister Gabes Shihepo told the National Assembly yesterday that they had managed to thwart several major "destabilising operations" planned by the prisoners, especially at the Windhoek Central Prison, over the past year.
"Through thorough procedural searches a number of cellphones were uncovered at Windhoek Central Prison.
These cellphones are mainly used by prisoners for communication with the outside world," he said.
It was with the help of those cellphones, coupled with the negligence of some employees at the prison, that six dangerous prisoners escaped during the early hours of November 26 last year.
The group included Gavin Beukes, one of the brothers facing eight charges of murder in connection with the farm massacre at Kareeboomvloer, south of Rehoboth.
Shihepo said the escape was foiled before the fugitives could commit more crimes while on the run.
One of them died in the course of escape.
Media reports said he drowned while trying to swim through the Kavango River.
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Shihepo said trafficking of contraband remained one of the main security concerns for the Ministry.
Members of the public and prison officials were said to be involved in smuggling contraband such as money, cellphones and drugs into prisons.
"All these prohibited articles have a common factor, which is to facilitate escapes or cause lawlessness in the institutions," Shihepo said.
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