Libyan inmate jailed for five years after torching prison cell

45-year-old Libyan man jailed for five years after being found guilty of setting fire to his cell, and to trying to torch a second cell.

A Libyan inmate has been jailed for five years after being found guilty of setting fire to his cell and to trying to torch a second cell at Corradino Correctional Facility two years ago.

Faiz Omar Elsallak, 45, of attacking and violently resisting prison wardens Kevin Cauchi, Carmel Cachia, Raymond Cutajar, Victor Galea, and Stephen Camilleri, of threatening them, of slightly injuring Cauchi, of damaging the prison and relapsing.

Magistrate Neville Camilleri also found him guilty of setting fire to cell number 13 in Division 6 on 4 March, 2012, and trying to set fire to cell number 11 in Division 13 three days later.

The court heard that on 4 March, 2012, prison officials found a suspicious liquid in the accused’s prison cell. Elsallak was subsequently moved to another cell in a maximum security division.

While in the prison cell, the accused said he sought to attract wardens’ attention to let him out, but these ignored him. Consequently, he said, he took a blade and self-harmed and after this was also ignored, he set fire to a mattress.

Elsallak was subsequently placed under psychological care at Mount Carmel Hospital because he had self-harmed.

Three days later, the accused was discharged from Mount Carmel and sent back to CCF and placed in cell number 11 in Division 13. The court heard that on 7 March, 2012, the accused was involved in a fight with two fellow inmates, and was escorted back to his cell.

After being locked in his prison cell, the accused repeatedly called on the officers to open his cell, but after he was ignored, the accused tried to set fire to the prison cell.

Upon noticing the smoke, prison wardens went to extinguish the fire and as soon as they opened the door, the accused assaulted them.

In his defence, the accused claimed that he only burned a piece of paper to attract the wardens’ attention, and that he did not try to burn the whole cell.

In its decree, the court noted that in his testimony, the accused had admitted to setting fire to the mattress and to trying to torch a second cell. Moreover, the court held that the accused has a “colourful” criminal record, and that he committed the crime while in prison.

Elsallak was consequently jailed for five years and ordered to pay €540 in court fees.

Inspectors Spiridione Zammit and Jurgen Vella prosecuted.