The opposition spokesman on home affairs, Gavin Gulia, yesterday lashed out at the government and the prison authorities for granting prison leave to Mario Camilleri, known as l-Imniehru, last Friday.

In a hard hitting statement, Dr Gulia said Camilleri had been granted prison leave even though he was facing serious charges in court relating to bribing two judges while in prison in order to get his prison term reduced on appeal. He was recently also accused of complicity in the importation of drugs from Sicily.

But acting prison director Neville Aquilina said when contacted yesterday that prison leave of two hours under escort had been granted on the recommendation of a court after an application by Camilleri.

He also pointed out that the leave was cut short and Camilleri was brought back to prison within 90 minutes, after he started misbehaving.

Dr Gulia said that last Friday Camilleri was allowed to leave prison to be with his family. Camilleri was "supposedly" escorted by members of the Special Response Team and was later seen entering prison acting in a way which could lead one to presume he was drunk.

Dr Gulia said prison leave was not a right and was granted only at the discretion of the prison authorities, given in terms of the general direction set by the minister for home affairs from time to time. Furthermore, prison leave could only be granted in special circumstances highlighted in the regulations.

It was not yet clear what the special reasons were in this case, Dr Gulia said. But whatever the reason was, the authorities had the power to refuse any request for prison leave.

The people, therefore, expected an explanation from the government over the concession granted to Camilleri. The opposition was of the view that given the gravity of the charges against Camilleri, the granting of prison leave in this case was an unacceptable luxury.

Dr Gulia said the government was totally insensitive to the war against drug barons and this was now also evident by the prison leave granted to Camilleri.

"Instead of strengthening discipline in the prison with regard to dangerous prisoners accused of crimes that shocked the country last summer and eroded the confidence that the people had in the institution of the court, the government is still treating drug barons in a calm way which lacks seriousness."

Dr Gulia also claimed that during the festive season there was an "infestation" of drugs at the prisons and many prisoners ended up under the influence of drugs, especially in Division 3.

He asked how it was possible that nobody was caught trafficking drugs when the availability of drugs in the prison was evident.

Mr Aquilina in his reaction explained that every prisoner was entitled to prison leave to visit a relative who could not go out because of an illness. Prisoners were also eligible for two days of leave every year to attend a wedding or a birthday party of their children or partner.

Mr Aquilina said that Camilleri had applied to attend his son's birthday party at home. The Prison Leave Advisory Board observed that Camilleri had not been accused of any misbehaviour over the past three months but at the same time he had pending court cases.

Camilleri, in line with procedure, therefore filed an application in court asking to be granted prison leave and the court recommended that leave be allowed.

The prison authorities then granted Camilleri two hours of prison leave under strict escort by two members of the Special Response Team.

Half way through the party the escorting officers noticed that Camilleri was misbehaving and warned him that he had to remain under their surveillance all the time. At one point the officers had a reasonable suspicion that Camilleri had started to consume alcohol.

Mr Aquilina said the officers were left with no option but to cut short Camilleri's prison leave and escorted him back to prison where he was transferred to another division as a disciplinary measure.

Further disciplinary action is to be taken.

Mr Aquilina denied that there was any "infestation" of drugs during the festive season: "Every two weeks we conduct urine tests on prisoners on a random basis. Disciplinary action is taken against those who test positive. From the urine tests carried out over the festive period there is nothing which points to any abnormal situation," he said.