Charges laid after raid by prison authorities at St Albans Prison

Warning:

This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers.

Read the article

 Port Elizabeth police have confirmed that charges have been laid at Kabega Park Police Station in respect of a raid by prison authorities at St Albans Prison outside Port Elizabeth last month.

Police spokesperson, Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg, says more than 100 statements have been taken and several cases registered.

The charges were laid by PE Human Rights Lawyer, Egon Oswald on behalf of St Albans inmates - who claimed to have been beaten and tortured during the raid on cells by prison authorities in March.

He told Daily Maverick this week that the case could lead to the first prosecutions in terms of South African's new torture legislation.

Oswald told the online publication that he had to turn to the High Court to gain access to his clients and photographs of their injuries.

Eastern Cape Correctional Services Provincial Commissioner, Nkosinathi Breakfast, reportedly said the raid was a routine search operation carried out in terms of normal policy procedures.