A young prison officer is in police custody assisting with the investigation into the smuggling of drugs inside the St Philip penal institution for an inmate on remand for two murders.
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Sources told the Sunday Sun that bags of snacks, including brownies which were laced with marijuana as well as bags of weed, were delivered to the cell of the 28-year-old inmate, who was allegedly involved in two high-profile shooting deaths, in separate incidents last year.
Sources said the delivery was caught on the prison’s high-tech cameras and, as a result, a prison officer who has about one year’s service was taken into police custody last Thursday.
It was revealed that a payment of $400 was made by a woman to have the contraband delivered to the prison.
The incident has prompted a high-level internal investigation at the Dodds, St Philip prison.
The Sunday Sun was unable to reach Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams, who has ministerial responsibility for the prison.
However, when contacted yesterday, criminal defence attorney Michael Lashley, KC, confirmed he was retained for the prison officer but said he could not speak onthe matter.
Sources said the prison officer will face the court tomorrow.
Sources also revealed that the truth verification tests were being conducted at the prison, pointing out that some officers who took the test had failed.
A source said polygraph as well as eye detection tests were conducted by a team of trained officials from the Barbados Defence Force.
When contacted, head of the Unity Workers Union, Caswell Franklyn, who represents several prison officers, confirmed tests were being done at the prison but said he advised the officers who fall under his trade union not to take the test.
(Nation News Desk)