A prison correctional officer yesterday filed a judicial protest in the First Hall of the Civil Court holding the Director of Prisons liable in damages following allegations made by a female inmate.

Antonia Formosa told the court that, as part of her duties as a correctional officer, she was to act as escort to female prisoners when they were brought to prison.

On February 18, Ms Formosa was ordered to conduct a strip search on a female prison who had arrived from Mount Carmel Hospital. In the course of the search it resulted that the prisoner had a packet allegedly containing drugs. Ms Formosa had informed the prison authorities of this find.

However, in order to avenge herself on Ms Formosa, the inmate told the prison authorities that it was Ms Formosa who had brought drugs to prison and then passed them on to other inmates.

Although the prisoner had subsequently retracted her allegation and criminal proceedings were to be instituted against her, the Director of Prisons had, on February 25, ordered that Ms Formosa be strip searched to establish whether or not she was bringing drugs to prison. As the strip search, conducted by two female prison officers, proved negative, Ms Formosa was taken to Mater Dei Hospital for X-rays to establish whether she had ingested any drugs. The results proved negative too.

The two female prison officers then told Ms Formosa that she could report for work. But Ms Formosa was not feeling well enough to work and had sent for her family members to take her home.

Ms Formosa told the court she felt traumatised by what had occurred to her and claimed that she was suffering from anxiety and depression as a result of the incident.

In conclusion, Ms Formosa held the Director of Prisons liable for the damages she had sustained.

Lawyer Roberto Montalto acted for Ms Formosa.