People caught could face fine or jail term

The Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) is warning members of the public against throwing contraband items over prison walls

The warning follows another discovery of contrabands outside the Suva Remand Centre early yesterday.

A package containing dried leaves believed to be marijuana, a smoke pipe and a multi-charger for mobile phones were found outside the centre by Corrections officers at about 1am.

Assistant Commissioner (Operations) Jo Kulinidilo said this was a daily occurrence.

“Nearly every day we find contrabands being thrown into the premises from the outside. Sometimes the contrabands are found just outside the wall,” Mr Kulinidilo said.

“This poses a huge challenge to the officers. People are doing this every day and we warn them that if they are caught, they will be apprehended and handed over to Police or we will report their identities to Police.”

Section 53 of the Prisons and Corrections Act 2006 states that: Any person who brings, sells or attempts by any means whatsoever to introduce into a prison, or to give to a prisoner, any prohibited article…commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or to both.