Pregnant 15-year-old sent to prison, group complains
A 15-year-old pregnant girl on Friday became the fourth child to be sent to prison in two months, the group Mid-Dlam Ghad-Dawl complained today.
The girl, a Bulgarian, was sent to detention on Friday after being accused of pickpocketing and remained in prison up to Sunday. Because of her four-month pregnancy the prison authorities immediately sent her to hospital.
The group said it appreciated that each case had to be seen on its own merits, but it was concerned how children were being sent to prison by the courts. It said that the criminal code provided various alternatives to incarceration.
The group said the civil authorities, notable the Commissioner for Children, should examine the situation .
The prisons, the group said, was not the place for children.
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In Discussion
12 Comments
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malcolm seychell
Mar 4th 2008, 22:20
Criminals can be send back if a country is part of the EU.
Italy is doing the same with Romanians
Charles Sammut
Mar 4th 2008, 20:15
James Degiorgio, she can be sent back to Bulgaria provided there is the political will. Italy deported many Romanians even though Romania is in the EU. She is a juvenile delinquent and we do not need her here, we have enough home-grown ones thanks to misguided bleeding heart do-gooders.
We've had enough of paying taxes to support irresponsible people. I am starting to feel that paying taxes is tantamount to aiding and abetting criminality and irresponsibility.
benjamin wood
Mar 4th 2008, 19:13
childred should not be sent to prison full stop,pregnant or not. Dont follow the US example where children are put on death row.i live in cambridge and its considered a fairly safe small city. do not believe the UK media all the time. It does not report good things, it doesn't sell papers! I feel safe here and rarely encounter yobs!As for foreigners i like them, my mother was maltese and came here!
Annabel Evans
Mar 4th 2008, 17:58
We moved to Malta from the UK because of the ridiculous laws that the UK is imposing - the country has gone to the dogs and they should really look at other countries like Malta and learn from it. You are not safe anywhere in the UK, YOBS rule and know they can get away with no less than murder - it is a complete disgrace.
P. Lawrence
Mar 4th 2008, 17:18
I definetly agree with M Seychell & Lorenza Attard. I too live in the UK & work in a secondary school. The stuff I see in one day of work here is unbelievable. These kids need to know that when they do wrong they are punished but there should be a correctional facility for minor as neither prison nor a hospital is suitable. I hope that Malta is not trying to copy the UK laws as that would be a big mistake. Remember the grass is always greener on the other side and actually from where I am standing it is not that green.
Roderick Marmara
Mar 4th 2008, 16:35
Mr De Giorgio - as far as I know any EU citizen requires a visa to work and live in Malta and therefore as Malcolm rightly said she should be deported back to Bulgaria. EU membership did not automatically consent to Bulgarians the freedom to go and work, or in this case carry out crimes, wherever it suits them. Recently I read that 80% of the street crimes in London are committed by non British and therefore Malta should learn from the current situation in the UK to avoid similar problems in the future.
Lorenza Attard
Mar 4th 2008, 15:36
I totally agree with M Seychell,I'm Maltese but reside in the UK. Don't let Malta become like the UK due to stupid laws. We constantly live in fear as yobs are uncontrolable. The police have their hands tied and can't do anything about it. The UK laws seems to favour these kids that are being a detriment to society. These kids need to be thought a lesson,maybe UK should take a leaf out of the Maltese law!
James De Giorgio
Mar 4th 2008, 15:07
malcolm, she cannot be sent back home. Bulgaria is in the EU.
Paul Sant Cassia
Mar 4th 2008, 13:21
Well, what is a 15 year old Bulgarian girl doing in Malta? And pregnant at that? There are 2 or even 3 issues here, quite apart from the prison remand: 1. Was she an unaccompanied minor? 2. Pickpocketing is probably something one learns from adults, and encouraged to do by adults. 3. Sex with a minor is considered rape as far as I know, and who is therefore the father (unless he is also a minor)? Perhaps the authorities are remanding her in custody until the matter is clarified and some light is shed on who is responsible for her, and for her condition. Perhaps there is a risk that she may abscond from "softer" care, and get into more trouble...
N Abela
Mar 4th 2008, 11:12
Honestly even the fact that she is 15 and pregnant is alarming.
malcolm seychell
Mar 4th 2008, 10:56
If she is not permanently resident in Malta, she has to be send back home. After all she is a criminal.
It is non sense to say that children should never be sent to prison.
Have a look at UK, Thanks to stupid laws passed because of pressures made by Ngo, today they cannot control criminality because children know that they are protected by law, for whatever they do.
Chris Grillo
Mar 4th 2008, 10:40
Although pick-pocketing is truly a crime , it is sad to see that despite the state of this child, she was still sent to prison. Not even a foster home or a place where she will be watched over...no..prison...hardly a place which will educate the child. We have gone to the dogs... admittedly the article does not elaborate on details, but first impressions are shocking.