QURGHON TEPPA, June 10, 2011, Asia-Plus — Yusuf Huseinov, the prosecutor overseeing correctional institutions is Khatlon province, is seriously concerned over lack of work for prison inmates.
“Currently, more than 1,500 people are serving their terms in four penal colonies functioning in the province, and only 600 of them are provided with jobs,” said the prosecutor, “Prisoners of penal colonies in Norak, Qurghon Teppa, Yovon and Garauti make bricks, boxes and other output. Last year, receipts from the correctional institutions located in Yovon, Norak and Qurghon Teppa amounted to 139,100 somoni: penal colony in Yovon – 35,800 somoni; penal colony in Norak – 37,400 somoni and penal colony in Qughon Teppa – 65,900 somoni.”
Under Article 107 of the Punishment Execution Code, correctional institutions must provide prisoners with jobs “Prisoners are sent to correctional institutions in order to be involved in work for correction,” said Huseinov, “Unfortunately, nearly 1,000 prisoners of local penal colonies are not provided with jobs.”
“Besides, prisoners must work in order to repair damage caused to the state or individuals, but since prisoners are not provided with jobs, this order is not fulfilled and thereby the right of victims to social justice is violated,” the prosecutor said.
“This year, 118 orders for a total amount of some 4.5 million somoni regarding 102 prisoners have been sent to the correctional institutions in the province, but only 13,000 somoni have been reimbursed so far,” he noted.
According to him, the main reason for such a situation is lack of funds, convoy and technical conditions for involvement of prisoners in work with local industrial enterprises. “A number of industrial enterprises operate in Yovon district, but they cannot get prisoners involved in work due to lack of technical conditions and convoy,” the prosecutor said.
