Fear for prisoners on nine-day hunger strike

The family of a notorious armed robber have expressed concern for his health as he has gone without food for nine days.

Anthony John Smith went on hunger strike last week after being transferred from Yatala Labour Prison to Port Augusta in South Australia.

Mr Smith is already serving 24 years of a 30-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to three armed robberies in 1999 and 2000.

According to The Advertiser, his family have now taken to social media to express their concern about his welfare as he refuses to eat.

“The last time I spoke to him was yesterday afternoon around 2:15 p.m. (Wednesday),” a relative said.

“He had now gone seven days without food, was struggling both mentally and emotionally, and his well-being had been at risk for days.

“This situation is about more than just a transfer. It highlights the ongoing injustices and inhumane treatment he has endured.”

Mr Smith reportedly spent more than seven years in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day, with a relative claiming the Department for Correctional Services denied him “basic human rights”.

“For as long as I can remember, there has been no real progress in Tony’s situation,” the relative said.

“Every step forward, no matter how small, has cost us considerable money.

“We encountered numerous obstacles due to classifications and other limitations, such as ineligibility for medium-security or release-ready programs.”

Mr Smith was sentenced to 12 years for the robbery of the Buckingham Arms hotel in Walkerville, 7½ years for the robbery of an ANZ bank and 18 years for a robbery of the Myrtle Bank, but the sentences were later reduced to 30 years with an 18-year suspended period.

In 2021, he was denied parole.

The DCS was asked for comment.