Custodial arrangements clarified

March 18, 2022

The Correctional Services Department made a clarification today in response to media enquiries concerning the number of defendants in the 35+ case who are subject to separate confinement as punishment for having committed offences against prison discipline.

 

The department explained that it, in general, does not comment on individual cases.

 

However, to prevent people with malicious intent from making unfounded adverse allegations on the relevant case, seeking to discredit and smear the department and mislead the public, on the premise of not affecting the privacy of the persons in custody (PICs) concerned, the department is making this stern clarification to set the record straight.

 

The department said 34 defendants involved in the 35+ case are detained in correctional institutions at present.

 

Among them, 23 are segregated, with 21 of them having requested removal from association for protection on their own initiative.

 

The department has therefore made such an arrangement according to their wish, and they can request the withdrawal of protection and resume association with other PICs at any time, while two people have to be isolated for quarantine purposes due to being infected with COVID-19.

 

The department noted that none of the defendants involved in the 35+ case who are detained in correctional institutions are currently under separate confinement as punishment for having committed offences against prison discipline, or removal from association with other PICs for the maintenance of good order or discipline, as so ordered by the department empowered by the Prison Rules.

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