Updated | PN urges better management at Correctional Facility

The Nationalist Party has pointed out that the situation at Corradino Correctional Facility has not improved despite the government’s promise to address the situation of drugs being brought into prison cells.

The party’s statement followed the discovery of synthetic drugs on the premises yesterday afternoon. The discovery was made when a sniffer dog detected the substances in a prisoner’s cell. The prisoner’s urine also subsequently tested positive for the substance.

PN stressed that cases like these showed that the government had fallen short of its promise to end drug abuse in prison, and that it was therefore essential to change the management of the facility.

“The person currently running the prison is none other than Ray Zammit, and ge is unworthy of this role,” the statement reads, adding that the latter had been found guilty of abusing his power when he covered up the shoot out involving former minister Manuel Mallia’s driver.

“Zammit was also in business with Gaffarena while he was still a part of the Police corps,” the party added.

The statement further added that Zammit’s position in the management of the prison was dangerous particularly in view of the dangerous relationship between Castille, the Police and criminality.

Government says the fight against drugs at Corradino Correctional Facility is an 'ongoing battle'

In its response to the accusations the government said that the battle against drugs at the facility is constantly ongoing and that every individual case was a sign that the system is effective.

“This government introduced more frequent drug tests both for residents and staff at the facility,” the government’s statement reads, adding that it had also ensured a further investment in sniffer dogs, which had discovered the drugs in the aforementioned case.

“Under the previous administration, not only had these dogs become pets for the residents, but there was a fully fledged racket within the facility,” the statement reads quoting a 2011 Court sitting, presided over by Michael Mallia.

The statement also points out that a report published by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction some months after this hearing, had revealed that drug tests had not been regular since 2009.