A senior prison warden from Zejtun, whose name cannot be published by court order, was yesterday charged with taking things out of prison and with accepting gifts when he could not accept them because of his office.

CID Inspector Carmelo Magri testified that on April 17 he was informed by the Director of Prisons that the warden in question had been found in possession of a plastic bag with about 60 packets of cigarettes.

The prison special response team had investigated an allegation that the accused was taking alcoholic and other substances in and out of prison and on noting the accused leaving with a plastic bag they stopped him near his car and informed him they wanted to make a search. He replied they would land him in trouble.

The police were informed about the find and checked whether any of the cigarette machines located inside the prison had been tampered with but this proved negative.

The witness said he had interrogated the accused who first said the cigarettes were given to him by a prisoner, Martin Dimech, but then said Dimech had given him the cigarettes so that he would sell them on his behalf and would then give him the money. The accused insisted he was not making any gain from the sales, the officer said.

The case continues.