Prisoners Missing from Prison During Minister’s Second Surprise Visit

By T. V. Antony Raj

On Sunday, April 7, 2013, Manuel Mallia, Malta’s Minister of Home Affairs made a surprise visit to the Corradino Correctional Facility.

Thanks to my fellow blogger Andrew Azzopardi, I came across the following hilarious article “Prisoners missing from prison during Minister’s second surprise visit” by Karl Stennienibarra posted on April 9, 2013, at bisserjeta.com.

Prisoners’ rights NGO Mid-Dlam Ghad-Dawl (MDD) director George Busuttil

Apparently, this post looks like a sequel to the article “Total system failure | George Busuttil” by Raphael Vassallo published in maltatoday on February 13, 2012 where, as prisoner’s right NGO Mid-Dlam Ghad-Dawl approaches its 17th anniversary, its director George Busuttil vents his frustration at an apparent total breakdown of the prison system.

Prisoners Missing from Prison During Minister’s Second Surprise Visit

By Karl Stennienibarra

Manuel Mallia, Home Affairs Minister of Malta

Home Affairs minister Manwel Mallia returned to Corradino prison for a second surprise visit this morning, only to find that this time it was the prisoners who were missing, as well as the guards.

Corradino Correctional Facility, Paola, Malta

After yesterday’s unscheduled visit to the prison, Dr Mallia realized that he had forgotten his briefcase. However, upon returning to prison, the only person who was there to greet him was an elderly cleaner.

“I expect the prisoners will be at the band club for early morning tea and pastizzi,” the janitor told the Minister.

The janitor explained to Dr Mallia that after breakfast on Tuesdays, the inmates liked to go unaccompanied to Birgu flea market for a stroll. After that, they liked to go their separate ways and do their own thing, such as loitering outside schools, borrowing cars and saying hello to witnesses who testified against them.

The younger, faster ones tended not to come back.

“I told Dr Mallia that if he was going to wait for them he might as well help himself to some drugs. He looked like he could use a joint.”

During yesterday’s surprise visit, Dr Mallia discovered that prison guards who were meant to be working until 9 pm went home as early as 1 pm.

Before handing in his resignation, prison director Abraham Zammit attempted to explain the situation.

“The prison guards are required by their wives to return home every afternoon to sign the bail book. They are very strict about this and who am I to get in the way of household law?” Mr Zammit said.