Complaints of exploitation of inmates in Cooks prison

Transcript

Allegations of abuse of authority and power by senior officers at a Cook Islands prison have surfaced.

An ex-inmate has made claims of widespread corruption and prisoner exploitation at Arorangi Prison in Rarotonga.

It includes prisoners being used as free labour by companies that senior staff have private interests in and the siphoning off of pension payments made to an inmates' bank account.

The Public Service Commissioner, Russell Thomas, has asked the secretary of justice for a copy of a report into the latest claims.

Mr Thomas told Bridget Tunnicliffe it's not the first time allegations have been made about the prison.

RUSSELL THOMAS: There was one that was referred to me at least two years ago. This was to do with an elderly inmate in prison, where money was withdrawn by senior officers. I did ring the Ministry of Justice, especially the Secretary of Justice. As a result of that complaint, a police investigation was completed. I wasn't happy with the report by the police, what they were saying was there wasn't enough investigation to take this matter further.

BRIDGET TUNNICLIFFE: Not enough evidence did they say?

RT: Yes.

BT: What are some of the most concerning allegations that you've heard?

RT: The one that just came out last week was you know the abuse of authority from senior wardens, senior people at the police. And then previously it was the ones on mis-management of finance, bank accounts, bank books that belongs to the inmates.  

BT: The other main allegation here is that some of the senior staff are basically using prisoners as free labour but under the regulations the inmates are meant to get a proportion of any money made but they're saying they're getting nothing.

RT: These allegations of taking inmates and working for their private interests, that was the one I was referring to of abuses of authority and power by these seniors so those are the concerns that I have and I'll be interested to receive the report from the secretary of justice on these allegations.

BT: Because not only are prisoners potentially being short-changed, the prison system is being short-changed because where is that money going? This money should be going towards maintaining facilities and that sort of thing.

RT: Well I'm hoping that all those issues will be reported in the report from the Ministry of Justice.

BT: Would you expect the superintendent of that prison to have a good handle on what's happening there and what his staff are up to?

RT: He should be aware of you know the activities that take place in his ministry, not just the superintendent, the secretary of justice as well, he should know and understand the activities of his ministry as a whole.

Russell Thomas says he also expects those officials to tightly monitor finances.