The Prisons Department has denied claims that Sungai Buloh prisons officers had used excessive force to break up a protest on Jan 4 which allegedly caused injuries to 200 inmates of Blok Berkat.

The inmates were said to be dissatisfied with the checks carried out on them and their cells.

Head of the department's policy section Supri Hashim said four inmates and two officers sustained minor injuries in the form of bruises and had been treated at the prison's clinic.

"There had been no beating after the situation was put under control and they returned to their cells," he said in a statement to refute a report by an online portal on Wednesday claiming that excessive force was used by officers to put the situation under control.

He said the commotion lasted about 10 minutes. Ten officers were on duty to control the situation.

Meanwhile, the department had set up an investigation board to probe into the incident and that a police report would also be made, he said, adding that the department would take action against officers who were found to have acted beyond the stipulated regulations.

- Bernama