BY SACHA WALTERS, Staff Reporter
ONE MORE CASE in the crackdown on corrupt prison warders came before the court when a warder was charged for attempting to smuggle marijuana to prisoners in the remand centre where he works.
Byron Walker, a 37-year-old prison warder with the Horizon Adult Remand Centre on Spanish Town Road, was seen on January 20 going towards the lockup area with a black bag. When he was stopped and searched, five parcels of marijuana wrapped in plastic tape weighing approximately 0.22kg (1/2lb), three ratchet knives, a folded knife, five sealed packs of cigarettes, loose cigarettes, a silver Motorolla cellphone and $3,100 in cash were found. When the warders attempted to take him to the administrative office he ran and eventually escaped in a car. He was arrested in Clarendon last week.
"He has no regard for his fellow warders," said Resident Magistrate Martin Gayle. Walker's actions were putting his fellow warders in danger and in disrepute as prisoners will grow to expect such actions, the RM said.
Walker, the father of six children, was charged with possession of marijuana and trafficking contraband into prison. He pleaded guilty to the first charge but said he was not guilty of having the other items.
He was sentenced to pay a fine of $900 or serve six months imprisonment hard labour for possession of marijuana, $1,800 or serve six months imprisonment hard labour for dealing.
Additionally, he will serve a mandatory six months in prison and if the fines are not paid he will serve a year. The other charge was adjourned without a date (adjourned sine die) leaving the chance for it to be brought up again.
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