JAILED KILLER PRIEST FUMING OVER CONFISCATED DEITIES
A HINDU priest serving a life sentence for killing his teenage neighbour is fuming after prison warders allegedly confiscated his Hindu deities and other belongings, including a television set, from his cell.
Former Chatsworth man Sundesigan “Desigan” Govender, 35, jailed in May 2007 by Judge Shyam Gyanda in the Durban High Court for shooting dead 18-year-old Ashwin Maharaj, told POST in a phone interview this week that he had gone on an eight-day hunger strike this month in protest at the alleged removal of his beloved deities, as well as other possessions, including cigarettes and a TV set.
He said his problems began on June 21 when a prisoner serving a 15-year sentence “attacked” him.
“The Department of Correctional Services subsequently held a disciplinary hearing and blamed me for provoking and assaulting the prisoner,” he said.
As punishment, he said he was removed from his single cell and placed in solitary confinement. The items were then allegedly removed from his cell.
Govender said he was also informed that he would not be able to communicate with his family “and other people outside prison for the next two years”.
He claimed that his religious and other rights had been violated.
“Previously, I was allowed four visits a month. Attempts by my family members to visit me in recent weeks were denied,” he said.
He began his hunger strike on July 8, ending it on Sunday.
“The warders, after realising that I was serious in proving my point, removed me from my single cell which had reduced privileges and took me back to my initial cell.”
He said his belongings were also returned.
Govender is, however, still not satisfied.
“I have served nine years of my sentence and believe that the time is ripe for me to let the outside world know what has transpired,” he said.
Shots
Govender had killed Maharaj at the teen’s home in Finch Street, Kharwastan, in June 2003.
He had fired seven shots at Maharaj, a Hare Krishna devotee, and after he was convicted was granted R50 000 bail pending leave to appeal his sentence, but did not raise the bail money.
He testified that he had acted in self-defence after Maharaj had stolen jewellery and religious statues from inside the shrine of the Hindu goddess Kali.
The court, however, concluded that Govender was a stranger to the truth.
The Department of Correctional Services had not responded to questions posed by POST at time of publication.