Filenews 27 November 2025 - by Michalis Chatzivasilis
The objections initially expressed to the criminalization of mobile phones in the Central Prisons have been lifted and the bill of the Ministry of Justice is proceeding for voting in the Plenary Session of the Parliament.
Yesterday, the Legal Committee completed the article-by-article discussion of the bill submitted by the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, which prohibits the import, use and possession of mobile phones in Prisons. During yesterday's article-by-article discussion, there was a convergence of views from all MPs in relation to the provisions of the bill, while no individual disagreements or reservations were expressed by organizations or services. That is why it is expected that the bill will soon be brought before the Plenary for a vote.
The bill is an important breakthrough in the penitentiary affairs of the country, since it tightens the measures to prevent and combat the use of mobile phones in the Central Prisons. In particular, it includes measures that criminalize the import, possession or use, and even the attempt to import, possess or use mobile phones by prisoners. It also criminalizes the importation or attempted importation of mobile phones by persons who are not prisoners and visit prisoners in prisons. Finally, the bill provides for particularly increased penalties for members of the Prison staff who carry out or attempt to take such actions.
It should be noted that the bill complements the ongoing process of installing a mobile phone detection and deactivation system in Prisons.
According to the bill, which will be brought to the Plenary, a person, prisoner or not, who possesses, uses, imports, exports, or attempts to import or export to or from the Prisons, a mobile phone or other portable means of communication, or attempts to acquire possession of it inside the Prisons, is guilty of an offense and in case of conviction, unless another or this Law provides for a more severe penalty, is subject to a prison sentence not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding €6,000 or both, and the mobile phone or portable means of communication in question is subject to seizure.
Also, in case this offense is committed by a member of the Prison staff, or by a person who provides goods or services to the Prisons, this person is subject, in case of conviction, to a prison sentence not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding €10,000 or to both of these penalties.
It is recalled that the problem with mobile phones in prisons is very serious, since crimes were ordered from inside the cells, while behind their importation there are big interests, since they are sold at very high prices.
