Four killed inside Honduran prison

Tegucigalpa, Aug 23 (IANS/EFE) Four men serving pre-trial detention at Honduras' National Penitentiary were fatally shot by a fellow inmate.

Convicted murderer Jose Chichilla brought the four men to his cell and "liquidated them there with a 9 mm pistol", deputy prisons director Obdulio Sabillon said Friday.

Nelson Oliva, Tanael Ordonez, Rodolfo Breve and Melvin Umana entered the penitentiary July 3 after they were arrested for criminal conspiracy and stockpiling military weapons.

Authorities are investigating how Chichilla managed to get a gun behind bars, Sabillon said.

The murders took place a week after police and the army confiscated televisions, appliances, furniture and pets - including purebred dogs - from gang members at the penitentiary, located about 25 km from Tegucigalpa.

President Juan Orlando Hernandez's administration launched an overhaul of the prison system in July after seven inmates escaped from one facility.

New wardens were appointed at all 24 prisons in the country.

--IANS/EFE

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