Lotus Glen prisoner allegedly assaulted by corrections officer

A prison officer threw an inmate against a wall then shouted at him as he lay cowering on the floor in a heated altercation that has outraged staff inside a Queensland correctional facility, whistleblowers say.

Lotus Glen prison in Far North Queensland is located on the Atherton Tablelands around 25km south of Mareeba.

A Lotus Glen prison officer threw an inmate to the ground then shouted at him as he lay cowering on the floor in a heated altercation that has outraged staff inside the correctional facility, whistleblowers say.

It is claimed a Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) employee assaulted a prisoner inside a cell after an abusive comment was made towards him in the prison unit’s common area on Saturday March 2, 2024.

Soon after, the prison officer allegedly confronted the inmate near a cell before hurling the First Nations man “with an extreme level of force” across the confined space.

The prisoner, who has a pre-existing heart condition and is believed to be in his mid-fifties, fell to the ground where the prison worker towered over him, pointing his finger and yelling at him.

A source familiar with the incident said the QCS staff member’s actions were captured on a security camera lodged inside the cell.

“He’s just a little old man who weighs about 60kg,” the source said of the prisoner. “He (the prison officer) was of no risk.”

Staff escort prisoners through Queensland; Lotus Glen Correctional Centre. The male prison can detain around 730 prisoners. Picture: Daniel Soekov for Human Rights Watch

A verbal complaint made by the inmate that weekend fell on deaf ears, the source claimed.

“He also made a written submission about a week later,” they said. “But there was no appetite to actually follow this up.”

Multiple whistleblowers familiar with the incident said it wasn’t until May that a senior manager raised the alarm despite witnesses corroborating the inmate’s account.

But a QCS spokeswoman said an investigation was “actioned” on March 20, the day after the inmate’s letter was received by management.

Standard procedure for lodging incidents of this nature on QCS’ Integrated Offender Management System (IOMS) is within 24 hours.

“If an incident happens it must be reported,” another source said.

“It’s absolutely critical to the operation of a correctional facility and an investigation follows.

“For an incident not to be raised is concerning. This is a very severe matter.”

The perimeter of Lotus Glen prison. Picture: Stewart McLean

It is understood the Corrective Services Investigation Unit (CSIU) later interviewed the inmate, who is no longer at Lotus Glen, in relation to the exchange with the prison officer.

A QCS spokeswoman confirmed an investigation into the matter had been launched but could not say when the investigation started, or if the prison officer had been stood down.

“Queensland Corrective Services is investigating an alleged incident at Lotus Glen Correctional Centre earlier this year,” the spokeswoman said.

“QCS is unable to comment further while an investigation is underway.”

Lotus Glen prison houses high and low security prisoners from across the Far North and North West of Queensland. Picture: Steward McLean

Whistleblowers claim the alleged perpetrator was still at work as recently as last week.

“To not do the right thing and report when something like this happens is disgraceful,” another source said.

Verbal abuse was no excuse for retaliation, they said.

“To be insulted is expected,” the source said. “Staff receiving verbal abuse from prisoners are meant to take the high moral ground and when the prisoner de-escalates it can be dealt with.

“This wasn’t handled properly.”

Originally published as Lotus Glen prisoner allegedly assaulted by corrections officer