Inmates sleeping in corridors at the Lefkosa central prison

A continuing crime wave in the country has resulted in 608 inmates being housed in Lefkoşa Central Prison which was designed for a maximum of 450, it has emerged. 

Because of overcrowding, convicts and those on remand are having to sleep in corridors and even in the prison's mosque, while 25-capacity dormitories had been doubled up to accommodate 50, leading to security issues and problems of hygiene, it was revealed, with too many inmates queuing to use toilets and shower.

Overcrowding problems reached a peak in the last week when some 60 illegal entrants to the TRNC had to be found accommodation for six days in the prison or in police cells as they awaited court hearings, with more than half of the group reportedly being deported. The fugitives were arrested in police raids carried out in Girne, İskele, Gazimağusa, Güzelyurt and Lefkoşa.

Salih Kayalı, president of the Prison Guards' Association, hit out at the problems and renewed calls for the Interior Ministry to complete construction of a new prison – due for completion this year near the village of Minareliköy – and recruit at least 80 staff.

Mr Kayalı said his members had also been waiting for some 18 months for a proposed amendment to parole regulations to stem prisoner numbers.

Current overcrowding is causing diseases to spread and urgent solutions are needed, he added, claiming cases of mange were being seen regularly and had not been eradicated despite Health Ministry intervention.

It also emerged this week that a prisoner who had been suffering from Aids died in hospital last Saturday. Roman Bazarov, a Turkmen national, was undergoing treatment in Lefkoşa State Hospital while serving a two-year term for burglary.