Prisoners walk outside of Kandal Provincial Prison on May 27. Hong Menea
The Ministry of Interior’s General Department of Prisons (GDP) is preparing a letter to the Ministry of Health urging the capital-provincial administrations to coordinate their intervention in the prisons within their territories due to the high rate of Covid-19 positive test results within those facilities.
GDP spokesman Nuth Savna told The Post on May 31 that according to the law on prisons, the provision of healthcare services within the prisons is the responsibility of the health ministry although the detainees remain under the GDP’s control. He said this will require coordination between the various sub-national authorities
“The situation does not seem to be very favourable in terms of transmission. We are preparing the letter ... in accordance with Article 12 of the Law on Prisons,” he said.
On May 31, several local media outlets reported that the number of inmates and officials in Kandal provincial prison infected with Covid-19 had reached 369 – a figure dismissed by provincial governor Kong Sophoan as a rumour in statements he made to The Post.
“It’s a rumour because I haven’t provided any [official] information regarding this issue. We cannot provide information on Covid-19 cases within the prison because we. . . focus mainly on security,” he said.
He said the provincial administration is currently implementing a number of measures to stem the spread of Covid-19 in prisons and is also trying to prevent further confusion and needless emotional distress at the facilities.
“We are very careful. We have to implement security measures and maintain order and security for 24-hours a day on the prison premises.
“We consider the grounds of the prison to now be a red zone for Covid-19 infections,” he said.
According to Sophoan, the authorities have repaired and added-on to a series of buildings to accommodate those who need to quarantine. The health department has a working group dedicated to treating the Covid-19 positive detainees.
Sophoan stressed that the spread of Covid-19 in prisons was now under control and asked The Post to leave the authorities to their work, refusing further comment.
Am Sam Ath, deputy director for rights group Licadho, reiterated that the court should consider releasing any of the accused who are locked up on misdemeanour charges, especially pregnant women, women with children and juveniles.
Sam Ath suggested that courts expedite proceedings, suspend [prison] sentences to some extent, allow them to carry out community sentences or let them serve just half of their sentence.
“The government and the courts should consider the release of detainees who are close to being released already and those with chronic illnesses. This will reduce overcrowding in the prisons and also reduce the risks of Covid-19 transmission within the prison facilities,” he said.
