The Department of Corrections said it was assessing whether the inmate responsible for instilling fear into the other inmates would face disciplinary charges.
It was not clear what led to the man threatening the prisoners of H wing with violence.
Otago Corrections Facility prison director Lyndal Miles said there had been ‘‘no hunger strike’’ at the Milburn facility.
‘‘Twelve remand accused prisoners in H wing refused lunch and dinner on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday,’’ she said.
‘‘Threats had been made by another prisoner, that if anyone in H wing ate their meals they would be assaulted in the yard the next day.’’
The 12 inmates began eating again at lunch on Sunday and had access to food in their cells which had been bought through the prison’s canteen.
‘‘Staff have since removed that prisoner from the wing and he is likely to face internal disciplinary charges,’’ Mrs Miles said.
‘‘Since then the routine in the wing has returned to normal.’’
Corrections did not comment on what led to the prisoner threatening the other inmates, but speculation it was due to more restrictive lockdown hours was incorrect.
‘‘They are receiving a minimum of two hours a day for recreation at present but they are allowed out of their cells at other times during the day so that cell cleaning may be undertaken and there may be prisoners involved in programmes or work-related roles that will take them out of their cells for longer periods,’’ Mrs Miles said.
‘‘Unit regimes can change quite often, depending on the mix of prisoners and risks.’’
timothy.brown@odt.co.nz
