Prisoner’s claims of heroin addiction ‘unsubstantiated’

Perry Toornstra, the Dutch inmate who claimed Malta’s prison has turned him into a heroin addict, did not “satisfy the required criteria” to enter a drug rehabilitation programme, according to the acting prison director.

Abraham Zammit was reacting to Mr Toornstra’s 11-page grievance letter he recently sent to the Minister of Justice.

He pointed out that the inmate’s claim of heroin addiction was “unsubstantiated”, adding he was never prescribed methadone, a standard treatment for addicts and abusers.

Mr Toornstra had even asked to attend rehab at a centre in Mtaħleb – which is widely viewed among prisoners as a better alternative to the Corradino prison facilities – but the Prison Substances Abuse Assessment Board turned him down because they could not establish the veracity of his claim of addiction, Mr Zammit said.

It is understood Mr Toornstra never tested positive to heroin use, despite several tests.

Mr Toornstra, a 35-year-old convicted drug trafficker, has promised to sue the government for his 11-year ordeal in prison, claiming it failed to reform him and instead caused great damage to his physical and mental health.

The Times has seen a copy of two letters sent to Mr Toornstra in response to his letter, one from the prison director and another from the Attorney General’s office. The letters were seen on the request of The Times and personal health details of the inmate were blacked out due to data protection laws.

In his letter, Mr Zammit reacted to Mr Toornstra’s claims that he was kept in a division so humid that water leaked from walls and where extreme temperatures were not countered by any heating or cooling.

The prison director said the small cells had thick walls which “act as insulation against extreme temperatures in themselves”. He added that inmates were issued with bed-sheets and two blankets but were also allowed to avail themselves of extra blankets, quilts and thermal clothing brought in by family or friends. Mr Zammit said the inmate had in fact brought in his own quilt. He also pointed out that no part of the prison had any central heating, which was generally uncommon in Malta.

Mr Toornstra had also claimed he was being taunted by three officers who had probably joined other prison guards in beating him up after his attempted escape in 2008 – an incident that saw four officers charged in ongoing court proceedings.

“Your assertion (that these three other officers lied under oath to cover up their colleagues) is simply your allegation and has no basis whatsoever, as no charges at all were brought against these officers who were called up as witnesses,” Mr Zammit argued.

Regarding Mr Toornstra’s claim that he was not allowed to indulge in any constructive activities in prison, Mr Zammit said the inmate was undertaking his second course “thanks to facilities granted by the prison”.

Mr Toornstra had said he was finishing his second course with no help from prison authorities and had to receive writing paper and envelopes from his family.

The acting director also corrected Mr Toornstra’s claim that prisoners were not classified according to crime: “Prisoners are not just classified according to crime committed but also on the basis of their behaviour, security risks and/or vulnerability.”

Meanwhile, the letter from the Attorney General’s office explained why Mr Toornstra’s request to be transferred to a Dutch prison had been refused: because the Dutch Ministry of Justice could not give any assurance that he would be kept in jail until June 2011 – his minimum sentence.

The AG’s office added that, following two other convictions (for smuggling drugs into prison and for trying to escape), Mr Toornstra’s earliest possible release would be June 13, 2012.