Two prison wardens have been suspended after a high-profile prisoner escaped yesterday while they accompanied him to Mater Dei Hospital.

The two wardens with Joseph Cini, also known as Il-Pele, allowed him to go to the bathroom unescorted at around 6.30 a.m., Corradino Correctional Facility sources told The Sunday Times.

Mr Cini managed to “elude the two officers guarding him” and made his way out of hospital without the wardens realising, the prison director said in a statement.

Mr Cini was stopped by another warden who was reporting for duty for a change of shift with the other guards. However, the prisoner “took to his heels”, with the warden chasing after him in the direction of San Ġwann industrial estate.

The officer lost sight of Mr Cini soon after, the statement said.

The prisoner was admitted to hospital on Friday aftercomplaining of severe chest pains. Mr Cini was in custody for breaching bail conditions. The bail had been granted after he was charged with seriously injuring police officers and escaping from police custody, the statement said.

Mr Cini, 47, of Qawra, has been charged several times in court with a number of thefts and in 2008 had a four-year jail term reduced to three on appeal for selling stolen antiques.

A magisterial inquiry is underway and an internal inquiry was launched to determine andidentify any “shortcomings in work procedures that may havecontributed to this incident,” the statement added.

Sources said the two wardens would remain suspended until the internal inquiry was completed and then they would face theconsequences according to its findings.

The police launched a public appeal and urged anyone with information about Mr Cini’s whereabouts to call 2122 1111. He was last seen wearing light brown shorts and a white top with black stripes. He is 1.7 metres tall, of slight build, has a dark complexion and shaved head. He also has various tattoos and was barefoot when he escaped.

A statement notifying the public of the prisoner’s escape was not issued until seven hours after the incident, a decision that was condemned by Labour Party justice spokesman Michael Falzon.

Dr Falzon said such an approach reflected a lack ofprofessionalism by the Justice Ministry.

The government only issued the statement announcing Mr Cini’s escape after One News called the ministry to confirm reports he had escaped and after airing it on its news bulletin at 11.45 a.m., DrFalzon said.

The Justice Ministry replied, saying in a statement that Dr Falzon’s comments were misleading.

It said One News called a ministry official to confirm the news at 11.51 a.m. yesterday morning and was given all the information requested.

The official also confirmed that a statement was going to be issued shortly with all the details of the escape and a photo of Mr Cini, the ministry said.

It also pointed out that the phone call took place while the news bulletin was being read.

“It is clear that the government did not hide any information from the media or public at any point in time,” the ministry said.