Former YTC inmate confirms abuse reports

Earlier this week, Commissioner of Prisons Carlo McHoney dismissed allegations made by a prison inmate that he was being sexually abused by Prison officers. According to McHoney, while the possibility exists that inmates sexually abuse each other, there have never been reports of officers abusing inmates. But a former inmate of the Youth Training Centre (YTC) has come out in strong defence of prison inmates, saying that the abuse at the hands of prison officers is very real. The former inmate, who wished to remain anonymous, said he spent three years at YTC and during that time several of his fellow inmates had fallen prey to what he described as “sick” officers.

According to the former YTC inmate, “I have to say, fortunately for me, I have never been abused by the officers. But I have close friends who have confided in me that officers have sex with them — some on a regular basis.” He said one friend told him of an incident where he was taken by the officer to a far off room late one night and forced to have intercourse with the prison officer. “My friend told me this, and I believe him. I believe him simply because the officer is known to have made strange comments, not only to me, but to other inmates. The hard thing,  however, is that the officer who my friend said abused him, is married and has a family,” said the former inmate. Following his friend’s incident, the former inmate said the officer promised him money to keep him quiet, and often bought him things hoping to keep him silent on the issue.

Asked whether his friend ever reported the incident to seniors at the institution, the former inmate said, “No, he didn’t. He didn’t do it because that would have just led to trouble. Others who attempted to report such matters are most times transferred to other areas of the institution. In those areas, they make living in YTC real hell. “They beat you and God alone knows what else goes on in there. I think he kept quiet so that he could just go through this period peacefully. In there, it’s all about survival.” The former inmate agreed  that an independent body be appointed to investigate the allegations and similar incidents which may arise. McHoney revealed earlier this week that the allegations made this week were being investigated by the Assistant Commissioner of Prisons, Joseph Messiah.