EXCLUSIVE
Prisoners in the state's SuperMax prison are
using Facebook to keep in touch with the
outside world, including fellow gang members
- and to request contact with women - in
what appears to be a major security breach.
Prison authorities have admitted they are powerless to stop inmates appearing on social networking sites such as Facebook and called for new legislation.
It is understood associates of the inmates have been updating the profiles, sometimes with letters and photos smuggled out of prison.
One prisoner profile the Herald found includes postings attributed to the serial killer Ivan Milat, the murderer and alleged drug dealer Bassam Hamzy, and the convicted triple murderer Konstantinos Georgiou.
All three are at Goulburn Prison's SuperMax division, also known as the high-risk management unit. It is home to 38 of the state's worst prisoners. Contact among prisoners is minimal and the cells are bare.
The Herald is also aware of lower-risk inmates having online profiles, including pictures, which are believed to be updated by Sydney bikies. Internet use is banned in NSW prisons and there is no suggestion inmates are updating their profiles.
But the Herald understands that Corrective Services NSW has become aware that information about SuperMax, including dealings with security guards, an alleged fire in a cell and the possible release of photos taken inside the jail, has appeared online and is being investigated.
The Facebook profile of Georgiou, a former Rebel bikie convicted of killing three members of the Bandidos gang, has featured a photo of the inmate working out which might have been taken inside prison. The photo has since been deleted.
Georgiou, who has 166 online friends, writes about his life in SuperMax, including run-ins with guards and his life as a bikie before his arrest.
He flaunts the newfound freedom social networking allows. ''It gives me a lot of strength, knowing that I can once again be in contact with all my brother's [sic], for the last 7 years here in SuperMax they have done everything in their power to cut me off from all my brother's but now with this new tool called face book they can no longer ke…ep me suppressed, love and respect from a born Rebel,'' he writes. Several Rebel members post messages to Georgiou, who writes about an alleged stint in solitary confinement after what he claims was a fire in his cell.
Georgiou's profile includes posts supposedly written by Ivan Milat and Bassam Hamzy. A Corrective Services spokesman, Bob Stapleton, said it was aware of the posts. They might be genuine but the agency could not be sure.
The quotes attributed to Hamzy, who is accused of running a drug ring from jail, are almost incoherent. He promises ''revenge at all costs'' before saying ''murder [is] on my mind''. Hamzy, whom Georgiou claims is becoming a psychopath, also alleges that the mobile phone he used to run his drug ring from jail was given to him by a guard.
Mr Stapleton said he was unaware of this allegation.
In another post, Milat claims he was framed for the seven murders he was found guilty of committing and, like Hamzy, speaks of his dislike for the Corrective Services commissioner, Ron Woodham.
An appeal for women to write to the murderer Michael Heron, who is serving 14 years, is also posted on Georgiou's site. Included in the request are a picture of Heron, which appears to have been taken inside prison, and his prisoner number and postal address.
Mr Stapleton said the department was deeply concerned about inmates' use of social media and was investigating potential security breaches.
But he said the department was powerless to stop the general public creating and organising online profiles for prisoners.
''We certainly are concerned, deeply concerned, but we have no control,'' he said. ''We have sought legal advice and the commissioner is very concerned about it … but there would need to be more legislation in place for us to have control.''
He said it was possible pictures were taken with Corrective Services' permission, as inmates were sometimes allowed to have their photos taken by an official.
The Herald sent emails seeking comment from the person updating Georgiou's profile, but did not receive a response.
