It
was meant as a day of fun and games at France's second largest prison,
but images of inmates go-karting prompted an outcry and now the governor
has admitted to an "error of judgement".
Guards
as well as prisoners at Fresnes, to the south of Paris, took part in a
series of events based on a reality TV game show called Koh-Lanta.
The racing struck a nerve.
"Had I known there'd be a go-karting contest, I would have imposed a very clear ban," said the justice minister.
Éric Dupond-Moretti ordered an investigation after a video of the event came to light at the end of last week.
Right-wing
politicians were quick to condemn the images, and it then emerged that
two of the inmates who took part in some of the activities such as a
tug-of-war were serving sentences for murder and rape. Other activities
included a quiz and an obstacle course.
One of the men who took part was reportedly jailed for 10 years only last year.
After
they found out, the event organisers took down the video from YouTube.
Djibril Dramé, who comes from the town of Fresnes and has organised
several similar events in the area in the past, said it had been made
clear to the prison that nobody could take part if they had committed a
violent offence.
The
nine-page inquiry report was published on Tuesday which said that while
permission had been given by the ministry, it had not had precise
details about go-karting or use of a pool.
The
justice minister stressed the idea was that of Fresne prison governor
Jimmy Delliste along with the local organiser, whose main intention was
"a moment of fraternal commitment for the benefit of three charities,
represented by a group of detainees, members of staff and young people
from Fresnes".
"As
for what the ministry knew, it was going to be a sporting contest and
there was never any question of go-karting," the justice minister added.
Although
the governor was hung out to dry for his role in the event, Le Figaro
newspaper said it had been given the go-ahead higher up and even the
video had been given a stamp of approval by the ministry's head of
communications.
Images
of convicted criminals careering around inside the walls of a prison
are not a good look when France's streets have already seen several
young people killed and injured in a spate of incidents involving young
people doing high-speed stunts on motorbikes and scooters.
Several
figures on the right and far right have condemned the centrist
government's handling of the go-karting affair. Hélène Laporte of
National Rally said while summer activities were being organised for
prisoners, one in three children were missing out on holidays because of
a lack of money.
Mr
Dupond-Moretti said new conditions would be circulated to prisons on
the type of rehabilitation projects that could be allowed, subject to
approval by the penitentiary service.
The video of the go-karting day at Fresnes was seen by almost half a million people before being taken down
