BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - A male prisoner is currently hospitalized after he was allegedly attacked and severely beaten by fellow inmates at Her Majesty’s Prison.
According to reports reaching SKNVibes, the injured prisoner, whose name was only given as Percival with ‘Ali’ as his alias, was attacked on Friday (Sept. 30) after inmates had turned in for the night.
When contacted for a comment, Superintendent of Prisons Juni Hodge confirmed that the incident did occur but did not go into details.
He told this publication that Percival had reported that three male inmates had jumped him and together gave him “a sound thrashing” shortly after they had turned in for the evening.
“What I can tell you is that an incident did occur with one of the residents and he got injured. He claimed that it was by three others who jumped him.”
The inmate was taken to the Joseph N France Hospital where he received treatment and remains warded.
Hodge also said that the incident occurred one day after Senior Prison Officer Vince Gumbs was caught allegedly trying to smuggle contraband items into the correctional facility.
He however could not speak to the extent of Percival’s injuries but noted that he had visited the prisoner who is currently recovering.
“I have not received a report from the doctor or the individual himself. I did visit the individual at the hospital but I have not received any detailed information.”
The HMP has been at the center of controversy over the past two weeks when it was revealed that Police Constable Cleavon Chumney was allegedly caught throwing a quantity of marijuana and lighters over the prison walls.
Chumney and Gumbs were arrested and charged for the offences and are on $10, 000 bail each. They are scheduled to make another court appearance on Monday, November 7.
This is not the first time that a prisoner had suffered injuries at the hands of fellow inmates at HMP.
In May 2011, the late Sheldon ‘Sword’ Cannonier, who was on remand, was stabbed twice in the back, once in the chest and once in the shoulder by a group of prisoners.
