In a press release, he also urged media houses not to condone acts that are contrary to prison rules.

Erskine said investigations revealed that on Monday at around 13:30 hrs, Benschop was granted an official phone call, which he is entitled to.

Benschop utilised the phone call to contact his wife and was later heard on the evening news programme of WRHM Channel 07, the Prison Chief said.

He said the prisoner was questioned by prison authorities in relation to his comment on television and he claimed that his wife taped the conversation and forwarded it to the television station.

"A firm warning was issued to prisoner Benschop for his breach of prison rules", Erskine said.