When 58-year-old G. Siripala, a Sri
Lankan prisoner serving a 10-year sentence for theft, was escorted by armed
prison officials to Colombo’s National Hospital with severe back pain, doctors
rushed him for an X-ray.
Lankan prisoner serving a 10-year sentence for theft, was escorted by armed
prison officials to Colombo’s National Hospital with severe back pain, doctors
rushed him for an X-ray.
Doctors thought he might have orthopaedic complications, a
source familiar with the matter told CNN. “But the X-ray showed a cell
phone and two hands-free kits.”
source familiar with the matter told CNN. “But the X-ray showed a cell
phone and two hands-free kits.”
Medical staff prepared to carry out a surgical procedure on
the prisoner, the source said.
the prisoner, the source said.
“However, the man said ‘Sir, sir, please give me a
moment.’ He coughed, wriggled, shrugged his muscles and the items fell on the
ground,” the source said.
moment.’ He coughed, wriggled, shrugged his muscles and the items fell on the
ground,” the source said.
The awkward incident reveals how Sri Lanka’s prison
officials discovered the latest round of phone smuggling into the high security
Welikade Prison, in the northern sector of the capital, Colombo.
officials discovered the latest round of phone smuggling into the high security
Welikade Prison, in the northern sector of the capital, Colombo.
The prisoner explained his situation to the doctors,
recounting how had been chatting on the cell phone with a relative when prison
officials carried out a surprise check on his ward, the source said.
recounting how had been chatting on the cell phone with a relative when prison
officials carried out a surprise check on his ward, the source said.
“He had no place to hide it. So he thrust it in his
rectum together with the two hands-free kits,” he said of the prisoner.
rectum together with the two hands-free kits,” he said of the prisoner.
At nighttime, to avoid detection, the prisoners cover themselves
with a bed sheet, hide the phone near the body and use the hands free kit, the
source added.
with a bed sheet, hide the phone near the body and use the hands free kit, the
source added.
Siripala’s undoing came when the person he had been speaking
to rang back. The ringing tone came from his back and prison officials grabbed
him, the source said.
to rang back. The ringing tone came from his back and prison officials grabbed
him, the source said.
The prisoner alleges he was beaten by prison guards, causing
the back pain that resulted in his trip to hospital and subsequent X-ray.
the back pain that resulted in his trip to hospital and subsequent X-ray.
Prison officials contacted by CNN declined to comment on the
matter because there was no such complaint of abuses.
matter because there was no such complaint of abuses.
Siripala was kept under observation for a day at the
National Hospital and discharged on Friday, the source familiar with the matter
said. A prison guard stood by his side at all times until he was escorted out
in a prison van.
National Hospital and discharged on Friday, the source familiar with the matter
said. A prison guard stood by his side at all times until he was escorted out
in a prison van.
Smuggling of cell phones into prison is an all-too-common
occurrence, forcing prison officers to use hand-held detectors, Commissioner
General of Prisons P.W. Kodippili told CNN.
occurrence, forcing prison officers to use hand-held detectors, Commissioner
General of Prisons P.W. Kodippili told CNN.
“Most prisoners, particularly when they are taken to
courts for cases, return with mobile phones given by outside parties. We have
minimized the problem and are on the alert and catch them when they come
in,” said Kodippili, who is in charge of all of Sri Lanka’s prisons.
courts for cases, return with mobile phones given by outside parties. We have
minimized the problem and are on the alert and catch them when they come
in,” said Kodippili, who is in charge of all of Sri Lanka’s prisons.
According to Kodippili, the “worst offenders” are
female prisoners.
female prisoners.
He told how one, a drug addict, had hidden two mobile phones
in her person after a trip to court. “She had gone to the toilet and
sought the help of another prisoner to use a thin piece of iron to pull it out.
She was wounded and bleeding. We had to rush her to the prison’s
hospital.”
in her person after a trip to court. “She had gone to the toilet and
sought the help of another prisoner to use a thin piece of iron to pull it out.
She was wounded and bleeding. We had to rush her to the prison’s
hospital.”
Kodippili said jammers have been installed in prisons.
However, one mobile phone operator had a tower near Welikade Prison and this
was causing a technical glitch.
However, one mobile phone operator had a tower near Welikade Prison and this
was causing a technical glitch.
“Very soon we will introduce body and parcel
scanners,” he added.
scanners,” he added.
Culled from
CNN
CNN
