By: Kelvin Chiringa
The Namibian Correctional Service Commissioner-General, Raphael Tuhafeni Hamunyela, said two people had to get anal surgery to retrieve mobile phones that got stuck after a botched attempt to smuggle them inmates last year.
Hamunyela made this revelation after his office was served with a letter of demand from PDM shadow justice minister Timotheos Shihumbu, who has demanded more security in the Fishrot accused’s holding cells.
Last week, a mobile phone was reported having been fished out of James Hatuikulipi’s cell, which has prompted Shihumbu’s letter.
Hamunyela confirmed receiving the letter.
Despite it being explicitly addressed to the minister in the presidency, Christine /Hoebes, Festus Mbandeka (Attorney General) and Albert Kawana (Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety & Security).
Shihumbu has accused the authorities of sleeping on their job.
However, when approached for a comment, Hamunyela watered down the letter as Shilumbu’s opinion, which is not advised by full information regarding the security situation at the holding cells.
In his letter, the lawmaker said, “I urge you to review the options in your facilities relating to mobile phone detection to sanction these illicit articles and decrease communication through illicit means by offenders or accused persons.”
But Hamunyela has told The Villager that they do not have metal detectors.
“Those are the equipment we do not have. Suppose we could have things that can be able to detect these things. If parliament can give us one metal detector, it would be better. If we can be given those things to say that anyone who goes there goes through the metal detector, it would be better. Even if we can have one,” he said.
He, however, said an investigation is underway into how a mobile phone ended up in Hatuikulipi’s cell for a second time.
“In the last two cases, offenders went for operations to be cut at the theatre at the hospital because (in one incident) the cellphone went horizontal in, and it got stuck there. The offender could not remove it anymore.
“He was taken to the hospital because he ended, for almost two days, not going to the toilet. He then reported… he was taken to the hospital and was operated. It’s two cases, last year. Those are cell phones. Stuck because they went horizontal instead of vertical, in the rectum,” he said.
But Shihumbu has told the authorities that they have the statutory obligation in terms of Section 3 and 20 of the Namibian Correction Service Act No, 9 of 2012 to ensure the Correctional’s efficient supervision, administration, and control Service.
He said over the past few years, the media reported on several occasions how they “have allowed Namibian correctional facilities to be run like pigsties, in total disarray and anybody and anything would enter correctional facilities without any high level of a security check or whatsoever”.
“There have been media reports of offenders committing economic crimes or harassing witnesses while in custody, drug abuse, weapon, and other illicit articles being smuggled inside the facilities to which you have turned a blind eye and ignored all the security protocols established under the law to ensure that all facilities are managed in conformity to the rules and standards.
“As the head of the institution, what is your position in light of these imminent threats orchestrated by those accused persons, friends, family, or even the members of correctional facilities who might be directly involved in these illicit activities related to the Fishrot accused?
“In light of the presence of the Fishrot accused at your facility, apart from the usual security checks, what other mechanisms have you put in place to prevent contraband from entering facilities, and does your intelligence staff have the adequate tools to identify and mitigate these risk areas in the physical environment and to stay informed about new methods of concealment at the facilities?” he queried.
Shihumbu said his office, through the National Assembly, will table a motion to introduce a regulation that will see a successful installation of proper security features in all minimum and maximum prison cells as soon as possible that will improve communication of offenders with their loved ones on the outside world.
