More charges laid in recent HMP 'disturbances'

A number of inmates accused of starting a riot at Her Majesty's Penitentiary earlier this month are now facing charges of threatening correctional officers.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said 12 prisoners caused a significant amount of damage to living unit 4A on June 3, after they refused to return to their cells. Ceiling tiles were torn down and windows were damaged in the incident.

The penitentiary went into lockdown as officers tried to get the situation under control.

The 12 have been charged for the disturbance, and for causing about $95,000 worth of damage, the same as the penitentiary riot last August.

On Thursday, the RNC said it has laid more charges against five of those inmates for threatening correctional officers on two separate occasions.