Dutch inmate claims assault by six warders

A Dutch inmate who was allegedly beaten up by four prison warders claimed in court yesterday that it was actually six warders who assaulted him but he could not remember or identify the other two.

The four warders who stand charged with assaulting Perry Toornstra at the Corradino prison were yesterday morning granted bail, a week after they were first held under preventive arrest.

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

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano heard Mr Toornstra, who is currently serving time for drug smuggling, give a detailed account of what allegedly happened on the day in question.

The magistrate had earlier cautioned Mr Toornstra that he might incriminate himself since he has been arraigned for violently resisting the warders last Thursday.

But Mr Toornstra insisted that he wanted to testify, saying it was all a lie that he had violently resisted the warders. He explained that he had been granted prison leave to visit his parents at a flat in Qawra. Approaching the prison gate on his return he suddenly got the idea of escaping from the vehicle that was carrying him.

He ran about 300 metres up the road towards Poala Square but Mr Meli caught him in front of HSBC bank. On turning around he saw Mr Debono also running after him.

He said that though he stopped running and gave himself up, Mr Meli and Mr Debono continued to hit him and he remembered receiving blows to his stomach and back.

He was then dragged by his hair and thrown into the police car where he continued to receive blows to the face from three of the warders, he claimed.

On entering the prison, he was dragged out of the police car, again by his hair, and the warders continued to beat him up until another warder shouted at the men to leave him alone.

He added that he had to wait 24 hours before getting to see a doctor.

The accused, who had been held at police headquarters, were granted bail against a deposit of €2,000 and a personal guarantee of €2,000 each. The case continues.

Lawyers Manuel Mallia and Arthur Azzopardi appeared for the men.