Overview
- The inmate was identified as Eugert Merizaj, who received a 32-year sentence in 2022 for his role in the 2019 killing of Hemawand Ali Hussein.
- Reporting says a TikTok Live Match from his cell brought in about £20,000 in roughly seven minutes through virtual gifts that can be converted to money.
- The Ministry of Justice condemned the activity, said the posts were taken down, launched an urgent investigation, and pointed to £40 million in new security measures.
- TikTok and the MoJ blocked accounts linked to the prisoner after media exposure, though he reportedly reappeared under new handles using contraband devices.
- He is due to be repatriated to Albania under a transfer scheme, with Peqin prison named as his destination and progress on prior transfers described as slow.