Právo: Rich Czech prisoners can buy drugs, sex, services

Prague, July 1 (CTK) - Rich inmates in Czech remand prisons can buy drugs, sex and various services from other inmates or even bribe guards over a shortcoming in the custody law, the daily Pravo writes in its Saturday issue.

There is no regulation that would enable to monitor cash in the prisoners' pockets, Pravo adds.

Under the law on the service of custody from 1993, the accused remanded in custody can receive money sent to them without any limitations, while the prison must secure its safe deposit. However, the law does not specify when the prisoner is obliged to deposit the money with the Prison Service, Pravo writes.

Attorney Lumir Crha, who deals with custody service at the Supreme State Attorney's Office, confirmed it to Pravo.

Possible internal rules of the Prison Service are not a sufficient measure, he added.

At present rich people in custody prisons can often afford to bribe prison guards or buy services, such as cleaning, from inmates who have no money.

According to Prague state attorneys monitoring remand prisons, the uncontrolled cash flow in them is behind serious disciplinary delicts, such as gambling, buying of a sexual intercourse with a same-sex person and smuggling of drugs and other prohibited items to prisons, Pravo writes, citing the attorneys' annual report.

Moreover, under such conditions inmates can attempt to corrupt the Czech Prison Service employees, the report says.

Over the lack of the respective legal regulation, the accused in custody prisons cannot be punished for keeping high sums and prevented from illegal handling of money, Pravo notes.

State attorneys supervising custody prisons in Prague have repeatedly pointed to the problem. However, state attorney's offices cannot propose bills and decrees. Consequently, it is up to the Justice Ministry to take the initiative, the paper writes.

Deputy justice minister in charge of the prison service Daniel Volak told Pravo that the ministry would analyse the situation and take some corrective measures definitely.