Prison quizzes inmate over drug smuggling allegations

| 22/12/2013

(CNS): Officials from HMP Northward said that an enquiry has been conducted at the prison regarding allegations made by an inmate in Summary Court last week. Leighton Rankine had pointed the finger at prison officers as the source of the ganja he was charged with possessingand for which he received an additional 30 days on top of his existing 13 year sentence. When quizzed by the magistrate about the drug, which was found on his possession during a hospital visit, Rankine said that the drugs were smuggled in by guards. Following media report about what was said in court the prison said it had questioned the inmate regarding his allegations but Rankine had not been able to support them.

“Prison administration conducted an inquiry into the allegations made in court that prison officers are trafficking drugs into Northward Prison,” HMP officials said in a short statement released Friday. “Mr Leighton Rankine was interviewed at Northward Prison on Friday, 20 December 2013 and became uncooperative and unable to the support the statement made in Summary Court on Tuesday.”

Rankine is currently serving time in connection with a shooting in a car park close to a West Bay night club in February 2012. Following a trial in June he was convicted of assault, wounding with intent, unlawful use of a firearm and the possession of an unlicensed firearm.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    30 days?  What a joke.  The sentence needs to be much harsher.  I would think a year for the first time you are caught, two for the second, four for the third etc, would be enough to change behaviour.  And for everyone convicted mandatory blood tests should be arranged and compliance should be a condition of applying for early release.  We are too nice to these scumbags.

  2. Anonymous says:

    No Christmas spliff for you bobo.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Doesn’t look good for him either way bobo!

  4. Anonymous says:

    This is so typical Cayman style. The people that are being accused is conducting the investigation. Oh yeah, this is going to be a fair and open investigation. All will happen is that the prisoner will be accused of being a "trouble maker" and cannot be trusted because he is a "criminal". And in the long term, the drug and whatever else that goes on will continue to somehow appear out of the blue!!!

  5. Anonymous says:

    Con's are weak minded individuals and will always shift blame to someone in authority.  Just ask and you will find out that  every one of them is innocent and if they had a lawyer or judge that knew what they were doing then they woudn't have been put in prison.

    The only ones that seem to be weaker minded is the RCIPS

    • Anonymous says:

      With Cayman "not guilty"  juries and local comedy prosecutions, if you are found guilty here then you really are much more likely to be guilty than in most places.  I have seen many cases where the evidence of guilt was overwhelming but local juries have let them off.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Where's the objectiivty Dep Governor? 

    They should not be allowed to investigate ther own and the prison officers have more to lose than a prisoner already serving 10 years.

    If anything, by making such allegations his period of imprisonment could be more difficult, seen as a target by officers if guilty of such illegal supply of drugs and even other prisoners who might be reluctant to give up an 'alleged' source.

  7. Anonymous says:

    they need charge his arse again for making malicious and untru allegations. a real lier this boy

  8. Anonymous says:

    truth or not there is no way that an impartial investigation can be made by the same people are being acused of a crime. from the get go he will not talk, what a bout if he talks to the wrong culprit's friend?

    just saying