While the government has been trying to bring changes in prison by nominating a foreign expert at its head, the situation was tense again last week. Inspector Tuyau of the Anti Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU), Antoine Chetty and his lawyer, Samad Goolamaully, were assaulted as they were coming out of an office in the New Wing of Beau-Bassin prison after Chetty had met the inspector.

Prison authorities have so far denied the seriousness of the incident. “There has been a minor incident which was under control at all times. There has been no physical contact at any moment,” they reported to the prime minister. But the three main “victims” had another version. Inspector Tuyau asserts that there was “actual physical wound.”

Hector Tuyau and four members of the ADSU were at the prison to meet Antoine Chetty and his lawyer. They wanted to know more about the revelations Chetty had promised. They had arranged for a meeting the next day. But as they were coming out, HIV/AIDS infected detainees pounced on them. One had a cutter and a syringe in his hands.

The inspector was pushed back into the office by one of the ADSU officers where Samad Goolamaully and his client had remained, petrified. They blocked the wooden door with furniture and tried to contact the Prison Supporting Squad but in vain. Finally, Inspector Tuyau called ADSU members who were waiting outside to come and help them get out. The latter made as if they were armed and succeeded in getting them out.

According to the “victims”, the incident lasted some thirty minutes while the prison authorities assert it lasted only three minutes. Samad Goolamaully, who said he was traumatised by the incident, states that he filmed a large part of the incident. “The persons in charge of the prison are lying to the PM and are trying to mislead the whole population to cover their incompetence,” he commented.

This incident has outlined the problem of insecurity in prisons again. What were detainees doing strolling around in the New Wing? How come they were able to have physical contact with visitors? The prime minister’s office has asked for a police enquiry to shed light upon this incident. If the “victims” version turns out to be true, how will the prison authorities justify their own version of the incident?