Oscar Pistorius's family is warned that he will be 'beaten up and gang raped' in prison unless they pay a bribe

The family of Oscar Pistorius have claimed they have been warned he will be beaten up and gang raped in prison unless they pay a bribe. The 29-year-old is facing more than 15 years in prison for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria on Valentine's Day in 2013. The double amputee

Paralympian was previously convicted of culpable homicide, which has since been converted into murder.

He will receive his new sentence at a hearing in the High Court in Pretoria in two weeks time.

However, according to the Pistorius family spokeswoman Anneliese Brugess, an unknown person has threatened to have the former athlete gang raped in prison, unless his relatives paid for evidence that would undermine the prosecution case against him.

Specifically, the person sent message to a relative of Pistorius seeking payment in exchange for evidence that the prosecutor had paid a witness who testified against the athlete at his sentencing last week.

The text message was sent to a cousin of the runner, Arnoldus Pistorius, on June 16, the day after the pre-sentencing hearing ended, Dailymail reports

Burgess said the anonymous person began making threats when the cousin did not respond to his demands, including to have Pistorius raped when he goes back to prison.

'These included threats that he would arrange for Oscar to be beaten up and gang raped in prison,' said Burgess in a statement.

Police confirmed that they were looking at the threats made to the family but no arrests had been made.