A 34-year-old woman was yesterday charged with filing a false police report against a prison correctional officer.

Marica Muscat, from Cospicua, was charged with filing a false report against prison correctional officer Antonia Formosa, insulting her, breaching the conditions of a previous release and relapsing on February 25.

The court heard that, on February 18, Ms Formosa was ordered to conduct a strip search on Ms Muscat, an inmate who was being escorted into prison. During the search Ms Formosa found a packet allegedly containing drugs in Ms Muscat's possession and informed the prison authorities accordingly.

In order to avenge herself of Ms Formosa, Ms Muscat told the prison authorities it was Ms Formosa who had brought the drugs to prison and then passed them on to inmates.

On April 8, Ms Formosa filed a judicial protest claiming that, although the prisoner had subsequently retracted her allegation and criminal proceedings were to be instituted against her, on February 25 the prison director ordered that Ms Formosa be strip-searched to establish whether or not she was bringing drugs to prison. The strip search, conducted by two female prison officers, proved negative and Ms Formosa was taken to Mater Dei Hospital for X-rays to establish whether she had ingested any drugs. The results also proved negative.

Lawyer Nicole Vella appeared for Ms Muscat.

Lawyer Roberto Montalto appeared in parte civile.