In March this year, the CCAC detected a case involving a chief officer of the Macao Prison who allegedly received bribes from an inmate to commit illegal acts. After in-depth investigation and with the active cooperation of the Macao Prison, it was found that another prison guard was also suspected of accepting bribes from the same inmate and smuggling various prohibited items into the prison for the inmate’s enjoyment. The persons concerned are suspected of committing the crimes of accepting bribes to commit illegal acts and offering bribes respectively and the case has been referred to the Public Prosecutions Office. As suggested by the Public Prosecutions Office, coercive measures including suspension from public duties and prohibition from departure were immediately imposed on the prison guard involved by the Court of Criminal Instruction in accordance with the law. The prison guard involved was responsible for monitoring the inmates and keeping the security and order of the prison cells. Since quite a long time, the inmate has repeatedly offered advantages to the said prison guard through a visitor. Such advantages included luxurious food, ginseng and deer antler, prestigious wine, branded cosmetics, travel tickets, hotel accommodation, as well as the promise of providing a well paid job abroad. In return, the prison guard involved repeatedly smuggled prohibited items such as food, seasoning, tea leaves, medicines, religious ornaments, brand name sports shoes, luxurious watches into the prison in opportune time for the inmate’s enjoyment. After in-depth investigation and based on the information gathered, the CCAC conducted an operation a few days ago. The said prison guard was arrested on his way to work and some prohibited items that were going to be brought into the prison were seized on him, in his residence and in the shop he runs. During the investigation, it was admitted the acceptance of advantages from the inmate and the smuggling of various prohibited items into the prison many times. The CCAC deems that the suspect, as a prison guard, has knowingly violated the law, his acts have seriously affected the effect of the execution of sentences of prison. The CCAC will pay close attention and continue to combat the related offenses.
