Top officers suspended amidst prison sex scandal

THREE officers from the top hierarchy at Windhoek’s Central Prison have been suspended amid reports of sexual escapades between men and women convicts locked up separately in the maximum-security jail.

The three were suspended on Tuesday following media reports that a prisoner became pregnant from another inmate in a prison that was assumed to have zero tolerance for even the mildest of romantic encounters. Chief Superintendent Richard Malambo, the head of Windhoek Central Prison, his deputies Innocent Mukuvi and Michael Mberira, who are both ranked as senior superintendents, were suspended indefinitely.The reasons for their temporary dismissal have not been announced.Evaristus Shikongo, the Commissioner of Prisons, declined to give details, saying only that the suspensions were “different” from the sexual trysts of the prisoners.The information could become public after disciplinary hearings expected before the end of this month.The story of the pregnancy followed in the wake of persistent calls to some media organisation by male prisoners offering to sell stories of steamy sexual encounters behind the secure metal doors of the goals.Windhoek Central Prison has 1218 men and 43 woman criminals behind lock and key.Chief Superintendent Richard Malambo, the head of Windhoek Central Prison, his deputies Innocent Mukuvi and Michael Mberira, who are both ranked as senior superintendents, were suspended indefinitely.The reasons for their temporary dismissal have not been announced.Evaristus Shikongo, the Commissioner of Prisons, declined to give details, saying only that the suspensions were “different” from the sexual trysts of the prisoners.The information could become public after disciplinary hearings expected before the end of this month.The story of the pregnancy followed in the wake of persistent calls to some media organisation by male prisoners offering to sell stories of steamy sexual encounters behind the secure metal doors of the goals.Windhoek Central Prison has 1218 men and 43 woman criminals behind lock and key.