''We cannot defy their orders': Warden alleges senior officers facilitate smuggling'

Rizal, a Kajang Prison warden in his 30s who has served in the prison service for less than a decade, claims he has witnessed inmates testing the boundaries of prison security. Maintaining security, he explains, is an ongoing struggle against inmates devising methods to bypass strict controls. Rizal, who spoke anonymously, highlighted the fact that people outside often believe once someone enters prison, everything is under control. However, inside, he argues, prisoners have ample time to contemplate ways to circumvent rules.

Prison officers are mandated to search inmates upon their return from court, hospital visits, and other authorized movements outside their respective blocks. Rizal elaborates that every movement follows specific procedures, including searches before inmates return to the wider prison population. When intelligence suggests contraband is being introduced, the checks become more rigorous.

The warden also mentioned that officers had to be vigilant for inmates exploiting work assignments or intra-prison movements to transport prohibited items between different blocks.

However, Rizal admitted that certain senior officers were involved in facilitating smuggling or supplying illicit items. These individuals, he noted, are often the officers with more authority. Rizal told the New Straits Times that officers depended on intelligence gathered from inmates and other sources to detect attempts to introduce prohibited items.

He added that if intelligence was received, searches could be conducted. Sometimes these searches were successful, other times they were not. Rizal emphasized that this is an ongoing process.

Regarding allegations that some officers accepted bribes to allow contraband entry, Rizal stated that such claims should not reflect negatively on the entire force. He emphasized that many officers, particularly the younger ones, stay away from such activities.