Fires of guards' vehicles, tags, threat against the director: a tense climate has reigned since early July in Borgo prison (Haute-Corse) following searches launched after the discovery of champagne and cell phones, according to sources concordant.
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Several investigations were opened and entrusted to the research section of the gendarmerie following the fire of vehicles of prison staff working in Borgo, the Bastia prosecutor's office confirmed on Tuesday July 28th.
Three vehicles were set on fire during the night of July 7 to 8 in the parking lot reserved for the staff of the establishment. Three others were killed on the night of July 25-26 in front of the home of a couple of prison officers in Lucciana. On the night of Monday to Tuesday, two vehicles of an officer were also destroyed by fire at his home in Vescovato.
On Monday, tags were discovered on the facade of the prison, identifying two officers by name and prompting them to leave. The director received a threatening letter, also confirmed to AFP Maxime Coustie, UFAP-Unsa Justice regional delegate who said he was " worried " in the face of this unprecedented series of incidents for 14 years that he has worked in Borgo. .
It all started with a seized cell phone
According to a source familiar with the matter, it all started with a cell phone seized during a random search that contained a video showing a party in a cell with bottles of champagne and several inmates filming themselves with cell phones. . The " party " took place on June 16 and resulted in cell searches and the seizure of other cellphones and banned products but no weapons, the source added.
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“ Following a birthday party, we underwent and accepted several general searches. But in recent weeks we have been under constant pressure from the management ”, we can read in an anonymous letter signed by the“ detainees of the Borgo penitentiary center ”and made public by France 3 Corse.
Assuring not to condone violence, the authors of the letter add that " families and friends (...) will not let these injustices and constant mental pressures unfold like this ". Contacted by AFP, the management of the prison administration indicated that this " series of facts " was " taken very seriously " and to have obtained the assurance of the prefect of Corsica that " the necessary means would be put in place to guarantee staff safety ”.
