Matthew Xuereb
Heroin overdose hours after release from jail
The young man whose lifeless body was discovered by his father at his residence in Sta Luċija on Sunday morning died of a heroin overdose, just hours after having been released from prison.
Police sources said Chris Bartolo, 28, was released from jail on Saturday evening after an eight-month sentence for theft.
The grim discovery was made by Mr Bartolo's father at their family home in Żnuber Street.
Initial police investigations led them to a 30-year-old woman from Paola who is believed to have sold Mr Bartolo the dose of heroin that killed him.
The mother of two is the wife of a man who is serving time in jail for drug-related offences and theft.
Police sources said shortly after Mr Bartolo's body was found, the police raided her residence in Paola where they found several sachets of heroin prepared for trafficking.
She was arrested and taken in for questioning. She is expected to be charged in court in the coming days. If the police manage to find enough evidence to link her to Mr Bartolo's overdose, she will be charged with supplying the lethal dose to Mr Bartolo and causing his death.
The autopsy on Mr Bartolo's corpse revealed he had died of pulmonary oedema, the cause of which is usually associated to overdoses.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a 30-year-old woman from Naxxar was found slumped in a car in Belliċ Street, Qormi at around 7 a.m. yesterday morning.
The police said an ambulance rushed the woman to Mater Dei Hospital where she was found to be in a critical condition.
A number of items related to drug abuse were found in the car, the police said, adding it had not yet been established whether or not they were hers.
Magistrate Audrey Demicoli was informed of the case and appointed a number of experts to help in her investigations.
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A. E. Abela
Mar 30th 2010, 17:58
Just for info purposes: At our local prisons there is a very well organized and funded rehabilitation program which the gov., the prison staff, the caritas, sedqa, the Alcoholic Anonymous and many other organizations of this sort co-ordinate and dedicate many resources for not only the drug addict but also for inmates with other addictive problems. They have also gone into the trouble of separating this division to another part of the island. Although the staff are employed as prison wardens they are hand picked for their proven integrity and willingness to help others in need, They are trained for this purpose and are constantly assisted by member of the above mentioned organizations who happen to be the local experts in this field. So in short, there is ample help for he who really wants to stop, change and remain clean. The problem lays with the individual - if he is ready to change or not. The prison cannot force people to change they can only offer an alternative. There is even professional counseling by psychologists and all types of courses available like I.T., and school subjects etc, also on offer is an opportunity to get into a job.
D.Galea
Mar 30th 2010, 23:33
Our local prisons where? Malta? Please go tell it to the marines. Our prisons our under staffed & only keep up thanks to their sacrifices & the critisms & assistance from various NGO's, as for rehabilitation? They're as real as a puff of smoke (no pun intended), and while Drug rehab programs are mentioned & yes they are carried out, with a dubious amount of success I might add given the relapses, what about other prisoners? Or is it that being implied that theres a class system in employment in the Maltese prisons, from what's being written this seems clearly to be the case.
Evarist Saliba
Mar 30th 2010, 16:05
On rehabilitating prison inmates who are drug users.
I am not aware that prisons are suitable places for a rehabilitation course for a drug user.
In any case, can a drug abuser who is in prison be forced to follow a rehabilaitation course?
Indeed, can a drug abuser genuinly follow a rehabilitation course unless he does so of his own free will?
anthea doughty
Mar 30th 2010, 14:08
As sad as it is, Mr Bartolo's death is entirely his responsibility. He chose to use again immediately upon release from prison. Any addict knows that each time they use could be their last. End of. Apportioning blame to the supplier serves no real purpose other than of course that all sellers and distributors of these vile illegal drugs should be punished. The article does not say why Mr Bartolo was in prison for theft but one can only assume that he stole to fund his habit. Perhaps some public information work and NA (narcotics anonymous) meetings are needed.
maria aquilina
Mar 30th 2010, 13:54
I cried when I read about this young man.The one who gave him the lethal drug must be brought up to court and kept under lock and key for the rest of his/her life. So when the man was in prison he just sat there with no rehabilitation programm. Wasted time. Why is it called Corradino rehabilitation facility then?Condolences to his father,mother and the rest of his family.When are we going to catch the big fish?
Reg Fitzpatrick
Mar 30th 2010, 11:50
I just hope some of the moaners who whinge on about AFM roadblocks read these tragic stories.
Drug abuse is one of the modern day scourges in our society and all measures taken to stamp it out are fully justified. Let’s protect our young people from themselves!
Keep up the good work AFM and increase your roadblocks if necessary. I certainly don’t mind the inconvenience if it results in saving just one young life.
N.Falzon
Mar 30th 2010, 12:28
How shallow!!!!!!!! As if the war on drugs is only based on road blocks. Yes that is the way.... Instead of catching the importer, we stop innocent people and the occasional user on the road! Wake Up!!! The people who are getting this dirt into our country are living off the high life while the user who is occasionally caught in a roadblock ends up dead! And what about the rehabilitation in prison! You comment is so out of point Life Saver!
Luigi Tomassi
Mar 30th 2010, 13:59
@ N. Falzon
The drug business is similar to other businesses, there is the importer, the agents and sub-agents and lastly the user.
If you ever read the news carefully, you will see that along with the innocent, the "occasional" user, sometimes the AFM roadblocks manage to catch some with an extra amount of drugs on them. These would be the sub-agents. Although, these are not the big fish, they still would be passing them on to other people. Though, admittedly, hard drugs like heroin and cocaine are rarely found during blocks.
And Mr/Ms Falzon, drop your idea of the occasional user. You should know drugs are addictive. We are not talking about joints.
Although heavy-handedness by the AFM personnel is unwarranted, their work must be appreciated. Every single bit counts towards saving a life.
N.Falzon
Mar 30th 2010, 16:51
I agree with you Mr Tomassi. But I read the news every day and never read that a supplier have been caught! Maybe once. But do you think one is a representation of the drug problem in Malta? The problem should be tackled from its roots! Therefore the barons of the hard drugs! And we are talking abou thard and soft drugs.....but in Malta unfortunetly everything is considered the same! A shame really! And why should I drop the idea of occasional user? As you said well, cannabis is not addictive.....and if you read the news....most people are caught with cannabis! I would appreciate the work of the AFM when they intercept a boat full of heroin and cocaine coming a shore. That is when I will appreciate their work. That is a true life saving effort!
Miguel Micallef
Mar 30th 2010, 11:35
The system fails us, yet no one dares change anything. Too many big heads involved!
L.Vella
Mar 30th 2010, 11:28
I pity those two kids whose mother and father are now both in jail for drug related offences...hope they will find adequate care..
R.Borg
Mar 30th 2010, 10:48
Rehabilitation Facility my foot!!!!
maria delicata
Mar 30th 2010, 10:35
this young man could have been saved if he was included in a rehabilitation program while in prison. shame that a life was wasted. the authorities must do something about this!