Inmates dish out brutal ‘kangaroo court’ punishments at Port Phillip Prison
PRISONERS have been whipped and bashed in sadistic ‘kangaroo courts’ dishing out jailhouse justice. The prisoners were left notes to attend the “court” in the style of a summons.
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PRISONERS have been whipped and bashed in sadistic “kangaroo courts” dispensing jailhouse justice.
Detectives have been called in to investigate assaults by a group of inmates against younger prisoners new to the corrections system at privately run Port Phillip Prison.
The Herald Sun has been told notes were left for those who were required to attend the “court” in the manner of a summons.
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Those who attended their hearings in a cell were severely assaulted and a number were left injured.
The incidents happened in the Scarborough South section of the maximum-security jail, in Melbourne’s western suburbs. It is regarded as one of the toughest sections of the prison system.
Police and paramedics were called to the Truganina prison on September 10 about 6.30pm because of reports of five inmates fighting.
A 25-year-old prisoner was rushed to hospital after suffering two stab wounds.
Police attempted to question the man but he refused to answer and would not make a statement.
It is unclear how the treatment of the prisoners was viewed by the broader prison population.
Such actions have been, in the past, frowned upon by old-school inmates.
Prisons have had their own systems of violent justice but seasoned observers have never seen activity such as that currently being meted out. There are allegations some of those “tried” were sexually assaulted.
G4S, which runs the prison, said it was helping police with the investigation.
“Following preliminary inquiries, we identified that the situation required further investigation and as such, referred all available information to Victoria Police on the same day,” spokesman Brett McMerrin said.
It is unclear how those put before the kangaroo court had breached the prison system’s law-of-the-jungle framework.
But prison authorities have moved to transfer out of the jail some of those suspected of being involved.
One is believed to be an ex-boxer with outlaw motorcycle gang links and an extensive background in violent crime.