Use Of Force Against Inmates Unplanned Says Taiping Prison Official

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 Chief inspector Shafril Azmir Shafie says chaos on the day of the violent incident on Jan 17 was poorly managed.
Suhakam is investigating allegations that more than 60 officers assaulted over 100 inmates at Taiping prison, resulting in one death and many others being injured.KUALA LUMPUR: A senior Taiping prison official said prison authorities did not plan to use force in an incident which led to claims of alleged abuse of inmates on Jan 17
Chief inspector Shafril Azmir Shafie told a Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) public inquiry into the alleged abuse that he “regretted” how the situation unfolded.
He said there was no clear strategy in place to manage the confrontation involving more than 100 inmates transferred from Batu Gajah correctional facility a day earlier.
“I don’t know how the altercation broke out, but there was never a plan to use force,” he said during today’s hearing.
“Even when we were ordered to prepare riot gear for crowd control, there was no plan on how to control the chaos.”
The conflict occurred when a number of inmates were set to be transferred from Hall B to Block E of the prison. The inmates refused to move, claiming that the block was squalid.
Prior to the episode, Shafril was tasked with searching Block E for contraband. Shortly after, he was called for a briefing by the control and prevention unit of the prisons department, and ordered to “get ready” for the upcoming transfer.
The unit’s personnel were armed with riot shields and body armour while other officers were asked to prepare equipment such as pepper spray and batons.
During the inquiry, the inquiry panel questioned the necessity of these preparations, citing Taiping prison SOPs that demanded the use of such equipment only in high-tension situations.
In CCTV footage shown to the inquiry panel, officers were seen kicking and striking inmates with batons inside the prison’s mess hall.
Lapses in memory
When inquired about his own actions, Shafril said he does not remember inciting any violence, though he did raise his leg to push away an inmate during the scuffle.
Shafril said he was not sure whether the inmates actually fought back, as the footage showed inmates displaying no resistance against the officers.
He also said his recollection of events during the incident was unclear, as he had developed trauma following the incident.
“I’ve had phobia since that day,” he told the inquiry, adding that personal stress and emotional pressure from work at the prison had shaped how he processed the incident.
Following the incident, Shafril said he was reassigned from the prison’s special operations unit to general duties and that several officers were reshuffled.
Shafril’s testimony comes right after fellow chief inspector Ahmad Saiful Rafie testified that the violence was triggered by provocation from the inmates.
Suhakam is investigating claims that over 60 officers assaulted more than 100 inmates, resulting in one death and many others being injured. The inquiry continues until July 10, and from July 23 to July 25. - FMT

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