Most prison officers addicted to bribes: AG

• It is a well known secret that prison inmates are protected by prison officers and prison officers are protected by inmates
• There is no discipline among prison officers nor among the inmates and their rehabilitation has not 
• been properly carried out
• I know that there are a few honest officers in this department. However, a majority of them are corrupt

By Sheain Fernandopulle  

Attorney General Dappula de Livera said yesterday the prisons have become the playgrounds of criminals and pointed out that the prison department lacked honest and efficient officers.

He said this when addressing prison officers at the Welikada Prison and claimed that a majority of the jailers were addicted to taking bribes from criminals.  

“It is a well known secret that prison inmates are protected by prison officers and prison officers are protected by inmates,” the AG said.  He said there was no discipline among the prison officers and inmates and pointed out that the rehabilitation of inmates had not been properly carried out.  The AG said the public too had lost faith in the prison department.  

“I know that there are a few honest officers in this department. However, majority of them are corrupt,” he said. 
“It is essential to put things right and for that, we need strong leadership and honest and efficient officers.”

It is a well known secret that prison inmates are protected by prison officers and prison officers are protected by inmates