| An inmate, who sustained a fractured left foot following an alleged beating at the Georgetown Prisons almost two weeks ago, is reportedly still being held at the facility without proper medical attention, and relatives are concerned that the authorities are trying to cover up the incident.Roscio Mercurius was allegedly beaten by prison officers after he was fingered in a drug-smuggling operation in the Camp Street jail following the arrest of a prison officer, who was caught smuggling marijuana into the facility.Relatives said that Mercurius, who has been in prison for the past 18 months awaiting trial in the High Court for carnal knowledge, has been in the prison infirmary since he sustained the injuries, despite reports that his condition warrants proper medical attention.The relatives are fearful that Mercurius could suffer further injuries since, according to reports they received, prison officers have threatened to “break his other foot” for talking to his visitors about the beating he received.According to a relative who visited Mercurius recently, following the discovery of the drugs on the prison officer who has since been charged, wardens rudely awoke Mercurius from his sleep two Saturdays ago and questioned him about the find.This newspaper understands that the prison officer who was caught with the drug had told his colleagues that he was taking it to Mercurius.The relative alleged that Mercurius was mercilessly beaten until he became unconscious.“When he wake up, they done hang he up like a bird. He say he get licks till he couldn’t see anymore,” the relative told this newspaper.This newspaper was told that Mercurius, a father of 10, has expressed fear for his life, since some of the officers who are responsible for his condition have threatened to put him in solitary for the duration of his prison life.“He frighten they kill he,” the relative stated.A reliable source within the main Camp Street Prison told this newspaper that, at the moment, there are over 60 injured prisoners at the institution who are still to be taken for proper medical attention.“Jail has no treatment for injuries like this. Jail don’t have Plaster of Paris. They frighten to carry the injured to the hospital because they will be exposed,” one inmate had told this newspaper.Last year a prison inmate, Edwin Niles, died as a result of a beating after ammunition was found in a pair of pants he was wearing, following an outdoor assignment at the GDF Headquarters, Camp Ayanganna.Resulting from that incident, two Senior Superintendents of Prisons have been charged with manslaughter.This newspaper contacted a senior official at the Georgetown Prison,David Njoku Jersey, who informed that all inmates who are injured are afforded proper medical attention.The official said that it was brought to his attention that the prisoner had received injuries, and he had immediately summoned the Medex.The official did not say if it was the decision of the Medex to recommend internal treatment for the injured prisoner.Another senior prison officer indicated that what the prisoners’ relatives are alleging is far from the truth.He said that there is no way that an inmate would be kept with an injury such as that which was described, since it will only get worse, and the prison authorities would have to deal with more than just a mere injury. |
