Prison academies risk becoming new Covid-19 clusters, warns rights group

The government’s plan to use prison academies to house MCO offenders has been panned by a human rights group who warns of Covid-19 infections among detainees. (Prisons Dept pic)

PETALING JAYA: A human rights group today cautioned the government against sending those who violate the movement control order (MCO) to jail, saying prisons risk becoming new Covid-19 clusters if detainees are not properly screened.

Eliminating Deaths and Abuse in Custody Together (EDICT) said this, among others, would leave the government open to negligence suits.

In a statement, it said prisons must have medical examinations and registration at entries, uniform and laundry arrangements, food provisions, provisions for detainees to take prescription medication, health and safety provisions, monitoring provisions, visitor controls and trained staff and transport, among others.

It added that the government was responsible for the welfare, health and safety of each prisoner, even if the jail houses only MCO detainees.

As there would be no social distancing at such establishments, it said each prisoner must be isolated until he or she is confirmed to be free of Covid-19.

“Only then can he/she be put in prison,” it said.

“If testing is not done, the prisons will become new Covid-19 clusters.”

Adding that those imprisoned might be prone to suicide, it said prison staff must be equipped with all necessary means to detect and respond to suicidal behaviour.

“There will be aggressive, violent individuals among the detainees, and fights may break out,” it added.

EDICT’s response follows the announcement by Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob last week that the government would convert 13 prison academies into centres to accommodate the increasing number of those detained for violating the MCO.

“At the academy, the same rules will be used as in a normal prison. They will follow the same standard operating procedure,” the minister said.

He also said that further discussions would be held with the police, prisons department and Attorney-General’s Chambers.

But EDICT said it was the taxpayers who would have to pay the awards handed out by the courts for wrongful deaths.

“This is money which could be put to much better use,” it added.

EDIC previously urged law enforcement authorities to reconsider detaining those who violate the MCO in police lock-ups, which would violate the principle of social distancing.

Lawyers have also been urging the police to only issue compounds to violators as the offence is a non-arrestable crime. - FMT