The famous Picota prison in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. 24 April 2017. EEIM
Colombian prisons are not “leisure clubs”: The Colombian administration has opened an investigation after a week-long party with musicians and alcohol in abundance at the famous Picota prison in Bogota. “This type of party, this behavior, the entry of alcohol, electronic devices, etc. is repeated and for this very reason yesterday we launched a disciplinary inspection at the Picota facility,” said Javier Sarmiento, prosecutor for the control of officers, on Wednesday October 5th.
According to Mr. Sarmiento, the detainees celebrated from September 19 to 26 in the quarters reserved for future deportees. In particular, in videos released by the Colombian press, we can see two famous Vallenato singers (a local musical genre) pushing the song into the microphone in front of prisoners drinking beer and alcohol sitting in a prison gym.
These parties were apparently organized with the consent of the administration. But the musicians who performed there must “declare under oath who hired them, how much they were paid, the terms of their contract, if there was one,” explained Mr. Sarmiento. “Changes will be implemented in prisons where Inpec [l’administration pénitentiaire] does not maintain its control,” read the press release, which announced the automatic resignation of Picota’s current director and the appointment of a replacement.
Arsenal of partygoers
A surprise search was conducted inside the prison and found 122 cell phones, thirty internet modems, five tablets, three projectors, four smart watches, nineteen speakers, eleven TV decoders, 184 bottles of spirits, whiskey, tequila and champagne.
In addition, in areas where they were not allowed, nine large-screen televisions, seventeen freezers, five refrigerators, twenty-five electric stoves, nine blenders…
Back in March, the government of outgoing President Ivan Duque (2018-2022) fired the head of prison administration and then director of Picota for illegally issuing exit permits to a businessman accused of paying bribes to a multinational corporation.
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That same month, a dangerous drug dealer known by the alias “Matamba,” a member of the feared Clan del Golfo wanted for extradition by the United States, fled La Picota with the alleged complicity of guards. He was finally killed by the security forces in May.
Since then, four directors have succeeded at the helm of Picota. “Unfortunately, we see people being changed, fired and suspended, but this cycle of corruption within prison institutions is cyclical,” Attorney General Sarmiento said.