THE Fiji Corrections Service has dismissed officers found colluding with prisoners to smuggle contraband into correctional facilities, with Acting Commissioner Auta Moceisuva warning that any staff member caught will be removed from the service.
During an interview with The Fiji Times online portal The Lens@177, Mr Moceisuva said the most recent case involving a corrections officer occurred last year, although intelligence reports indicated attempts at collusion were continuing.
“I think the last time was last year,” he said.
“There are still reports coming in that they are colluding with the officers.
“Today, it’s much easier to do this because they have these mobile phones.”
He said money had been exchanged in some cases to facilitate the movement of prohibited items into prisons.
“We have had cases where some money was involved in the transfer of returns for those who help or those who collude with prisoners in bringing contraband inside the facilities.”
Mr Moceisuva said the service maintained a zero-tolerance approach, with officers regularly reminded of the consequences during daily briefings.
“Because here colluding or collusion is a zero-tolerance policy.
“If you happen to be caught, then the punishment is to leave the correctional service because if you stay on, then you continue to be a threat to the safety and security of the facility.”
Describing one of the biggest security challenges, he said prisoners had resorted to concealing mobile phones inside their body cavities.
“The most unique way is the prisoners using their body cavity to conceal mobile phones.”
Mr Moceisuva said while all people entering and leaving prisons undergo mandatory searches, the absence of X-ray equipment limits officers’ ability to detect internally concealed contraband.
“But we can’t see the item being concealed into their body cavity because we don’t have the machine to look at what’s inside the body.
“That’s the difficulty and the most unique way of concealing mobile phones.”
