Prisoner's escape from Mater Dei announced seven hours later

According to a statement issued seven hours later by the Director of the Corradino Correctional Facility, authorities at CCF were informed early this morning that Cini had escaped from Mater Dei Hospital.

Late in the evening, the police were searching the area known as Nigret, limits of Rabat, after a number of residents reported seeing him.

This is the second time that Cini has managed to escape from custody whilst being in hospital. The same incident happened on November 30, 2002 at around 2:30am.

Yesterday, Cini was admitted to hospital after complaining of suffering from severe chest pain. He was kept overnight for observation and treatment.

But at 6.30am Cini managed to dodge two officers guarding him and “made his way out of the hospital without their becoming aware of his escape.”

While on his way out of hospital, Cini was accosted by another officer who was reporting for duty for a change of shift with the overnight officers. The inmate took to his heels with the officer giving chase on foot in the direction of San Gwann Industrial Estate where the officer lost sight of the prisoner.

Cini was last seen wearing light brown shorts and a white tee-shirt with black stripes. He is 171 cm tall, of slight build, of dark complexion and has a shaven head. Cini sports several tattoos on various parts of his body and was barefooted when he escaped.

Cini was remanded in custody for breaching of bail conditions. He had been granted bail after had been charged for causing grievous injuries to police officers and escaping from police custody.

Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Joseph Cini is asked to forward such information to the police on telephone number 21221111. 

The police have been informed and a magisterial inquiry is being conducted by the duty Magistrate Dr. Doreen Clarke. Internal investigations are being conducted to determine and identify any shortcomings in work procedures that may have contributed to this incident. The two wardens who were guarding the prisoner have been suspended pending these investigations.

Further searches for Cini are underway.