Dutch prisoner denies escaping, resisting wardens

Dutch prison inmate Perry Ingomar Toornstra, 32, this morning pleaded not guilty to having violently resisted and threatened prison wardens Francis Debono, Francis Meli, Daniel Cuschieri and George Falzon in Corradino on August 9. He also denied...

Dutch prison inmate Perry Ingomar Toornstra, 32, this morning pleaded not guilty to having violently resisted and threatened prison wardens Francis Debono, Francis Meli, Daniel Cuschieri and George Falzon in Corradino on August 9. He also denied escaping custody, breaching public order and slightly injuring two of the prison officers.

His defence counsel, Joe Brincat, told the court that his client was being held in inhumane and degrading conditions in Division Six of the Civil Prisons, without even having a fan. It was significant, Dr Brincat observed, that when a European expert group inspected the prisons, Division Six was kept empty, but it was now being used again.

The court asked the Director of Prisoners to ensure that prisoners are not treated inhumanely.

The four prison wardens were last week charged in court with having allegedly beaten the Dutch inmate.

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