Richards: Cellphones in ‘hits’ from jail

Independent Senator Paul Richards expressed his fear that gangland “hits” are being ordered from prison through the use of illicit cell phones, in the Senate yesterday.

Initially, in a listed question, he had asked if signal jammers are used to block illicit cell phones at the prisons, given last Friday’s killing of a prison officer. Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon replied, “The jammers are in active use at the prisons.”

Richards then asked the level of success of the jammers, given allegations of “hits” being ordered from prison, but Senate President Christine Kangaloo made him repeat his question but cut him off before any reference to “hits”.

Dillon replied that prison officers have had some success in seizing cellphones, but there is room for improvement for which officers work assiduously.

Otherwise, Kangaloo disallowed Opposition Senator Saddam Hosein’s call to discuss prison unrest by way of his motion to adjourn on definite matters of urgent public importance.