JUDICIAL INVESTIGATION | Death of John Martingale at prison: DPP representative accuses Prison Officer of lying in court

Prison Officer Emmanuel Constant, of the Prison Security Squad (PSS) - who had participated in a search of John Martingale's cell the day before his death - was called to the witness box yesterday. Faced with the fact that the witness had become entangled in a series of contradictions, the DPP representative was, at one point, accused of lying in Court regarding the time that the Prison Officers spent in this cell. It was during the new session of the judicial investigation into the suspicious death of John Mick Martingale, which occurred at Beau-Bassin central prison. The investigation is chaired by magistrate Denis Jonathan Vellien, sitting in the Rose-Hill Court.

On September 7, 2024, five prison officers carried out a search of this inmate's cell in order to find a cell phone. The next day, inmate Martingale was found hanging from the bars of the skylight of his cell. Emmanuel Constant, part of the PSS, was called to the witness box, where he was questioned by Me Ricky Bhookhun, representative of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). This Saturday, September 7, 2024, the prison guard had was assigned to the Segregation Unit at Beau-Bassin prison when guard Ghoorah came to him to tell him that an inmate had a cell phone in his possession. Warden Constant asked him to inform Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) Ramtoolah. The latter then called the guard Constant into his office.

Me Bhookhun (RB): What equipment did you have with you? Emmanuel Constant (EC): No equipment. RB: You want to tell me that you had no equipment with you, not even for your own protection? What if an inmate attacked you?EC: Normally we don't have any equipment in the evening.RB:Did the other guards have their batons with them?EC:Normally they would have had their batons, but I can't confirm that. I haven't seen one.RB: Have you heard of the Control Room? EC: Yes. This is where the images from the CCTV cameras are viewed. RB: Was it important to inform the Control Room of this search? EC: Yes. So they could see what was happening.RB: You informed the Control Room of this search? EC: That was ASP Ramtoolah's responsibility.RB: But you didn't tell him? This would have ensured your protection as well. You agree with me that this is serious. EC: ...A team - including ASP Ramtoolah, Prison Officers Constant, Nundlall, Vythilinga and Ghoorah - then headed to Martingale's cell. Guard Constant then opened the door to this cell. RB: Who entered this cell? EC: Only me. RB: Are you sure? The witness replied “yes”.