Jailed tainted trio cut off world contacts

Bipin Dani November 6, 2011 1

Jailed tainted trio cut off world contacts

MUMBAI: Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammd Aamer, the convicted Pakistani players and their agent, Mazhar Majeed, who were “friendly” with each other over mobiles till last year, are not allowed to keep the phones with them in the UK prisons.

“No, the prisoners have had to surrender their cell phones here”, the lady at the Wandsworth prison in London said over telephone from London. “The convicted prisoners are not allowed to receive the calls”, however, she also added, “But there is a paid facility for the prisoners to call their family members (or friends) from here. They have been well guided about what to do’s and don’t's during their stay with us”.

Butt, Asif and Mazhar are in Wandsworth prison, the largest in England, while Aamer has been positioned at the young offenders’ detention centre.

“There are about 1700 prisoners here and the convicted trio are in D wing (there are five in all). We have two prisoners in each room and if they wish, the players (Butt and Asif) can stay together (with the permison of Governor Dave Taylor)”, the lady on phone added.

“Yes, the prisoners have facilities to watch TV news and read news papers. There is a big library and they can read books also”, she further added.

“The tea, coffee and three times meal are supplied at no cost in the canteen”.

It is not known whether the family members of these players would go to London during Eid holidays. Gul Hassan, the wife of Salman Butt, who delivered a second baby-boy (ceaserian operation) is, however, unlikely at this time.

“Three people are allowed in each visit for one hour with prior permission and there can only be two visits in one month”, the lady answered.

Wandsworth is a local male prison being governed by Her Majesty’s Prison Service.

Prisoners in this jail are not compelled to do any work like gardening, tree cutting, levelling etc.

Interestingly, Ronnie Biggs, one of the participants in the Great Train Robbery, escaped from the prison in 1965 before fleeing the country.