Wife-killer found with smuggled phone in jail

A smuggled iPhone and three sim cards have been found in the cell of convicted wife killer Christopher Panayiotou.

Panayiotou occupies a single cell at St Albans maximum prison in Port Elizabeth.

The discovery was made during Operation Vala (Shut) – a nationwide festive season campaign aimed at foiling escapes at all 243 prisons across SA.

The Eastern Cape department of correctional services confirmed that the unauthorised items were discovered by guards in Panayiotou’s cell on the morning of December 20.

Panayiotou’s privileges, including visits and telephone calls, have since been reduced by prison authorities, department spokesperson Nobuntu Gantana confirmed.

“Offender Panayiotou contravened the regulations in the Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998 as he was in possession of unauthorised articles.

“As such, his privileges will be reduced and this may include reducing his amenities to less visits and telephone calls.”

Panayiotou was sentenced to life imprisonment on November 2 2017 for masterminding the kidnapping and murder of his school teacher wife Jayde Panayiotou on April 21 2015.

Her body was discovered on April 22 2015 in an open field in KwaNobuhle near Uitenhage – a day after she disappeared while waiting for a lift to school.

While is it not clear how Panayiotou received the illicit items, Gantana said: “We continue to urge the public not to assist offenders to smuggle in contraband items as this puts not only the safety and security of the offenders within our care at risk, but poses a safety and security risk for all members of the community.”

Operation Vala was launched in Pretoria’s Baviaanspoort prison by deputy correctional services minister Thabang Makwetla on December 3.

There are more than 21,000 prisoners housed at 44 prisons in the province, Eastern Cape correctional services commissioner Noziphiwo Dumbela told the Dispatch on Wednesday.

The operation cleaned up five prisons including St Albans, Grahamstown, East London, Mdantsane and Mthatha facilities from December 17 until December 30.

Dumbela said the following contraband was confiscated:

● Cellphones – 530;

● Chargers – 183;

● Batteries – 192;

● Mandrax – 307 packets of tablets, 18 packets of crushed tablets;

● Dagga – 1,895kg, 455 stops, 89 zolls and 401 blades;

● Sharpened objects – 85, including four knives;

● Cash – R 15,110; and

● Liquor – 2l of brandy/rum.