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West Australian Government
November 13, 2004 AP
Doubts have been cast on the financial stability of security contractor AIMS
Corporation, with a new Department of Justice report warning of possible
risks to the Government over the corporation's $21 million a year contract to
manage Acacia Prison. The department's annual report on WA's only private
prison, tabled in the Legislative Assembly this week, revealed plans to scrutinise AIMS' books to uncover any financial risks the
company posed to WA taxpayers. The report said the department had held
concerns over the financial health of AIMS for two years, and closer
monitoring of the prison over the last year exposed multiple financial
issues, including cashflow problems and long delays
in invoice payments by the prison. The report attacked AIMS over a host of
other problems at the $79 million prison, most significantly, the level of
illicit drug use. Nearly one in 10 random urine samples tested positive for
illicit substances in the past financial year, the most cases ever recorded
in the three year history of the prison. Another cause for serious concern
was the high number of test refusals. Criticism was also levelled
at faulty electronic systems. AIMS was penalised $211,598 for various deficiencies at the
prison, including the drug problem. Its five-year contract to manage Acacia
expires in May 2006, with the department to review the contract before it
expires. The performance of AIMS, which also manages court security and
custodial services in WA, was thrust into the spotlight this year when nine
dangerous criminals escaped from the Supreme Court lockup in June.
THE
private security company lambasted over the mass escape of prisoners from
Perth's Supreme Court has issued a public apology. AIMS Corporation's
contract with the West Australian government first came under scrutiny
following a breakout by nine maximum security prisoners from the central
Perth courthouse on June 10. But the pressure on the company
intensified still further with the escape last week of Adrian John Ugle, who slipped out of his handcuffs and fled from AIMS
officers who had been transporting him to a hospital appointment. Ugle, 28, who was serving a two-year sentence at Casuarina Prison for aggravated burglary and previous
escapes, spent four days on the run before being returned to custody last
Saturday. Ugle's escapade prompted the State
Government to consider dumping AIMS from their contract to protect and
transport the state's convicted criminals. (News.com, July 23, 2004)
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