Behind the high fences and brick walls at the pristine Estcourt Correctional Services, a brutal assault allegedly took place recently.
This is a claim made by a number of inmates, who say they were severely beaten by prison wardens on July 13.
One of the inmates reached out to the media, saying it was their only hope to have their story told.
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The inmate, who spoke of condition of anonymity, alleges that on the morning of July 13, some of the inmates wanted to engage with officials about the lack of an exercise hour.
“We get an hour to exercise and this was not happening. So we called the officials to ask them why. We told them we would like to see the authorities to get answers,” claims the inmate.
This is when tempers allegedly began to flare.
“The wardens told us they own the jail and we must go back to the cells. We insisted that we wanted to speak to the authorities. They fooled us into believing they were going to speak on our behalf, and left,” he explains.
Thinking that their concerns may be entertained, the inmates waited for news. However, when the wardens returned, the inmate claims that a brutal assault took place.
“They came back and sprayed the inside of the cell with pepper spray. They then started beating us with a stick and choking us. We could not do anything to defend ourselves. They then started taking us one-by-one out of the cell. We knew that once someone was taken from the cell, they would not return; they would go straight to Estcourt Hospital,” alleges the inmate.
He adds that a total of six people were admitted to Estcourt Hospital.
“They are in the intensive care unit (ICU). I think the wardens were trying to kill us. We are trying to open a case with the police, but they won’t let us and that is why we called the media.”
These accusations were presented to the Correctional Services Department for a comment more than two weeks ago.
Despite assurances of a response from one communication officer, the Estcourt News was thereafter requested to contact a second communication officer, but this too provided no answers.
NOW SEE: PHOTOS: Ultra-modern facilities at Estcourt Correctional Centre
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