The East Flanders public prosecutor's office is investigating the death of a 28-year-old man at Ghent prison. The man had been interned a year ago and he had severe mental issues. The man had reportedly been on hunger strike and died in the prison’s hospital wing.
Warders at Ghent Prison found the 28-year-old man unconscious in his cell last Thursday. He was taken to prison’s hospital with symptoms of dehydration, where he later died.
The man had reportedly been refusing to eat for some time. Dieter Cools of the socialist trade union ACOD told VRT News that "We suspect that the man died as a result of his hunger strike. All the relevant procedures were followed, the man was also given medical treatment, but eventually died in hospital. We now have to await the results of the investigation, but I can say that the staff have been deeply affected by the incident."
"We do our best to accommodate people that have been sectioned as best we can, but these are people who do not belong in a prison. They should be referred to specialised mental health institutions, but unfortunately, there is a shortage of places there."
Of the 500 inmates at Ghent Prison between 180 to 200 were found to be mentally unfit to be held accountable for their actions and thus interned by the court.
The East Flanders public prosecutor's office has confirmed that an investigation had been launched into the man's death. However, no further details were given. A pathologist has been appointed to ascertain the cause of death.