One of ‘s most high-risk prisoners is calling for the toughest jail in NSW to be shut down for exposing inmates to cruel and inhumane punishment.
Bassam Hamzy, the 45-year-old founder of the infamous Brothers 4 Life gang, represented himself in NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday after launching a civil action against the Commissioner for Corrective Services.
He claims conditions inside the Goulburn Supermax, a maximum security jail within Goulburn Correctional Centre, are in breach of NSW law.
Hamzy recalled harrowing incidents of self harm, suicide and segregation inside the prison which he argues may ‘reasonably be expected to adversely affect’ prisoners’ physical and mental health.
Bassam Hamzy (pictured), the 45-year-old founder of the infamous Brothers 4 Life gang, wants the Goulburn Supermax prison to be closed
Hamzy claims Supermax (pictured) has exposed inmates to cruel and inhumane punishment after he allegedly witnessed several self harm and suicide incidents involving other prisoners
In handwritten documents, Hmazy asked the court to declare Supermax in breach of NSW regulations and order it ‘be shut down or brought into compliance with the law’.
He submitted a list of incidents ‘in relation to [himself]’ which he believed were detrimental to his mental health, including a prisoner setting their own cell alight.
‘When an inmate next door to me commits suicide that has an impact on me,’ Hamzy told the Supreme Court, news.com.au reported.
‘When an inmate sews up his lips or puts faeces all over his body that has an impact on me.’
The Supermax, officially named the High Risk Management Centre, is known for holding some of NSW’s most dangerous criminals, including terrorists and murderers.
The Supermax (pictured), officially named the High Risk Management Centre, is known for holding some of NSW’s most dangerous criminals
James Emmett SC, acting for the commissioner, urged the court to deny Hamzy’s request as issues relating to other inmates were not intended to be punishment.
The court also heard Hamzy has collected statements from inmates including gangland killer Naseam El-Zayat and an old affidavit from ex-Bandidos bikie Kon Georgiou.
He claims he tried to collect further affidavits from other inmates but staff had used his status as a high-risk inmate to block him from talking to ‘willing witnesses’.
Hamzy’s list of potential witnesses included Brothers 4 Life-linked hitman, Conrad Craig.
‘I already know what they’re going to say,’ Hamzy said of the witnesses.
‘I’ve lived their experiences, and I know their experiences.’
Hamzy has been imprisoned since 1999 after he was arrested and found guilty of fatally shooting a Sydney nightclubber in 1998.
He has also faced allegations of running a drug ring from behind bars in the Supermax prison.
Hamzy is also seeking the court to declare a 2022 decision to deny him phone contact with lawyer was an abuse of power.
On Tuesday, Hamzy called for the commissioner to submit incident reports from Supermax.
The matter will return to court at a later date.
Hamzy claims staff at Supermax have blocked him from speaking to other ‘willing witnesses’ including Brothers 4 Life-linked hitman, Conrad Craig (pictured)