Four prison wardens were denied bail today after being accused in court of having beaten up a Dutch prisoner last Saturday.

Following a defence request for them to be held separately from other prisons, the prison service has decided that they will be detained at police headquarters, The Times/timesofmalta.com have been informed.

The accused are Francis Debono, 41 of Safi, Francis Meli, 38 of Birzebbuga, Daniel Cuschieri, 27 of Paola and George Falzon, 27 of Qormi.

All pleaded not guilty.

They were accused of beating up prisoner, Perry Ingumar Toornstra at the prisons last Saturday.

The incident allegedly happened shortly after the prisoner was recaptured, having briefly escaped custody.

He got away from a prison van which was waiting to enter the prison, taking him back from prison leave which enabled him to visit his mother at a hotel. The prisoner, who was handcuffed, was caught within minutes in nearby Paola square.

During this morning's sitting, the defence requested separate prison quarters for the accused, once they had been denied bail. The request was upheld by Magistrate Silvio Meli who left it at the discretion of the prison authorities to decide on arrangements.

Mr Toornstra was jailed for 15 years in 2000 for importing a large number of Ecstasy pills.

He is also due to be arraigned in court for escaping custody.