Mark Micallef, Bertrand Borg
‘They do know the king of drugs’
If Bickle was queen there must be a king
The inmates who sold drugs in prison 10 years ago are still doing so today and the authorities know about this, former convict Charles Muscat, il-Pips, told The Sunday Times yesterday.
“Of course these things are still being done. What was done to stop the drugs? Did anything happen to the people selling drugs? They are still selling them,” he said.
“These are prisoners serving long sentences. They run the prison. They are still making thousands and most of them are not junkies. They do it purely for money,” he said.
“If (female inmate Josette) Bickle is the Queen, there must be a King. They know who the king is in there too.”
Mr Muscat, who was released from prison in August after serving 17 years of a 25-year sentence, said he was still aware of what went on in Corradino.
He was speaking in the wake of Ms Bickle’s conviction last week for trafficking heroin with impunity in the female section of the Corradino Correction Facility between 2006 and 2008.
She was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, but the trial judge, Mr Justice Michael Mallia, condemned the whole prison system which he said had “failed” in allowing Ms Bickle to “operate with impunity”, indicating “collusion with the authorities”.
The government defended itself, saying that things had changed since Ms Bickle’s time and that her case had come about precisely because of an inquiry in 2008.
However, according to Mr Muscat the inquiry, which was never published, focused on the small operators.
“What happened to the director? (Sandro Gatt, who resigned at the time). He left and went back to the police force. What’s more, the current director (Abraham Zammit) was his deputy at the time. Where was he when this was going on? Where were the other managers, the majors and the officers? It’s the small fry that got the blame,” he insisted.
So far, Mr Gatt has refused to comment, saying only that any questions should be directed to the police.
The Sunday Times asked the police about him and even about the fact that he formed part of the same department that was probing the Bickle case. However, no response to these questions was forthcoming.
The police’s media office did say, however, that five people, including Bickle, had been charged as a result of the inquiry, adding that they were “now reviewing and evaluating evidence tendered before the criminal court for any other possible action which may be required.”
The Prime Minister yesterday said he had nothing to add to a statement issued by the government on Friday, saying he felt it addressed the issues raised.
But Mr Muscat also rubbished another line of defence brought forward by the government, which claimed that of 480 drug tests carried out between 2010 and 2011, only about two per cent were positive.
“This figure amounts to less than one test per inmate per year,” he pointed out (according to the latest count there are 600 inmates in prison). “It’s obvious that you are not going to have a high count of positive tests.”
“The reality is that the tests stopped being so rigorous because there was a time when the government used to get a lot of flak when the results were exposed through parliamentary questions.”
This view was supported by the former head of the prison board, Mario Felice, who in 2008 resigned in protest over the running of the prison, practically forcing Mr Gatt’s departure. Mr Felice said in his time a third of prisoners would test positive for drugs when tests were carried out. Moreover, he said that the statistics used by the government implied that “random testing is no longer carried out”.
The government claimed that the tests are carried out on the basis of suspicion. However, Dr Felice said this method “is prone to human bias”.
Beyond the testing, Mr Muscat argued that the “Queen” label for Ms Bickle was misleading because she was a heavy user like the other inmates she supplied.
“The only difference is that Bickle found a way to get the drugs into prison and that meant she could fund her habit and have enough to give for free to other inmates in return for favours. But who is really to blame here, the junkie or the prison authorities who should have made sure there was a drug free environment?”
Mr Muscat had been jailed for a double murder in September 1994, committed after a heavy binge on cocaine. He admitted after he left prison that he picked up a heroin addiction as an inmate but now insists he is clean and reformed.
As with his case, he said that the system had worked against Ms Bickle.
He said he agreed with the judge’s suspicion that the prison authorities tolerated the situation because drugs kept the inmates quiet.
“The only time there is panic in prison is when a syringe is found and this is because an inmate can overdose with a syringe and that looks bad. If inmates smoke heroin, they’re quiet and will not overdose”.
Information lockdown
As the public eye zeros in on the Corradino Correctional Facility, it appears prison authorities are instituting a communications lockdown.
A request by The Sunday Times to speak with an inmate yesterday was flatly turned down by a warder at the prison’s front desk, who said that there had been a policy change.
Previously, anyone wishing to speak to a convicted inmate could contact Corradino and inform staff of their request. The inmate would then be told of the contact and be given the opportunity to call back.
But the system appears to have changed, with the front desk warder saying yesterday that it had been modified following a number of “security issues”.
He did not elaborate.
The shift in policy comes after the prison director Abraham Zammit recently refused a request by The Times to interview an inmate.
This means the only way the press can contact a prisoner over the phone is if the inmate makes a call to them on his own initiative. However, it is not clear how an inmate is expected to know that the press would like to speak with them.
An inquiry into prison maladministration launched in 2008 was prompted after Dutch drug convict Perry Toornstra blew the whistle on prison administration through The Sunday Times.
Mr Toornstra had said that he had used a fellow prisoner, Leli Camilleri (Il-Bully), as an intermediary to obtain prison leave.
The revelation of inmate favouritism had led to the resignation of then-prison director Sandro Gatt and the launching of the as-yet unpublished inquiry.
Attempts to ask Corradino prison director Abraham Zammit on the change in prison policy proved futile.
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Carmel Grima
Dec 19th 2011, 09:03
Il-pulizija direttur tal-habs rega mar lura fil-pulizija. Nistaqsi x'sar mir-report li kont ghamilt jien fuq il-korruzzjoni li kien hemm fil-pulizija, Misc 33, quddiem is-Seg tal-kumm ta' kontra l-korruzzjoni?
Ruth Muscat
Dec 19th 2011, 06:45
What a country we live in. We know about this prison situation, the authorities know about it, and do not stop it? And the other type of abuse that goes on, how about that too? Prisoners are human beings too and they have to be protected first and then reformed. Wake up guys.
pat muscat
Dec 18th 2011, 22:37
Tal-PN jafu kif jivvota kull Malti imma min hu il-King tat-droga gol-habs u barra le?
Francis Sammut
Dec 18th 2011, 20:04
''The Prime Minister yesterday said he had nothing to add to a statement issued by the government on Friday, saying he felt it addressed the issues raised'' Oh really? How are they addressed, may I ask? After the Josette Bickle trial and all those witnesses, Dr. Felice, Prison Board Chairman's statement and to top it all Judge Michael Mallia's harsh words aimed at the authorities. Now we have it from Mr. Sandro Gatt (il-Pips) confirming, if we needed confirmation, that not all is well at the Corradino Prison Facility - far from it! The PM's answer to all this leaves one speechless!
Schembri Ray
Dec 18th 2011, 19:36
Why don't the goverment fire all off them and send the inmates to Kemmuna?
Joseph Vassallo
Dec 18th 2011, 19:08
The whole of the prison system is being held check mate by few inmates who apparently are too powerful even for the law. Are the officers and wardens scared of repercussions from these individuals if they stop them from continuing what they are doing. Is it the usual answer - because Malta is too small and we all know each other or is it that we cannot think or don't want to think of a system to prevent this from happening.
Joseph Calleja
Dec 18th 2011, 17:37
I think this is a perfect time for Charles Muscat to find a way to pay back to society and maybe have a private talk with His Hon Judge Mallia so maybe he can start an inquiry into the corruption going on in our prisons. I prefer an outside party does the investigation but that is hard to do. Mr Muscat is the perfect witness and , I think it is time for him to come forward and expose those who are braking the laws in our prisons, yes by that I mean guards too. If the law cannot observe the law what do we citizens expect is in store for us? Mr Prime Minister it is time for another stand. "THE BUCK STOPS HERE ." episode. I think Mr Muscat is a treasure of inside information and he can open a can of worms which has been ignored for the longest time. Let us not swipe this under the carpet like we usually do. To think the PM and some of his cronies were so flabbergasted by the divorce initiative? Minister Mifsud Bonnici if you are not interested about what Mr muscat has to say, then I think you should make way for somebody else to listen. I am sure Dr Franco Debono would make a good listener and so would the media.
James Tyrrell
Dec 18th 2011, 16:02
As usual this is turning into a red and blue issue. The fact of the matter is that there is corruption within the prison service which needs to be dealt with. It is not acceptable for people to be sent to prison and then to be better off financially than they would be on the outside. It is not acceptable for prison warders to be taking kickbacks in order to turn a blind eye to criminal activity within the system. If the stories regarding the missing cocaine from Bickle's car are true then it is certainly not acceptable for police officers to be involved in the very activities they are employed to combat. In a case like this everyone no matter what their political leanings are should be standing together and demanding answers!
A. Caruana
Dec 18th 2011, 13:37
DO PEOPLE STILL HAVE FAITH IN OUR POLICE FORCE ?
Arthur Mortimer
Dec 18th 2011, 13:25
The day that prisons are used as a punishment and not as a 'holiday camp' will be the day hell freezes over. Prisoners have more rights in prison than the ordinary man in the street. They will use the human rights act as much as they can when inside. If you are convicted of a crime you should be locked away and shown the error of your ways and not given all the possible luxuries you would have outside prison. No TV, radio, satellite channels and no contact when visiting is allowed. May sound harsh to the do-gooders of the world but why not deprive them of something they can only get outside the prison walls so they can have the time to think about their crimes. If you cant do the time dont do the crime, obvious.
Peter Agius
Dec 18th 2011, 12:58
Just put a Civilian to run the Prisons.!!!!!!! With the salary involved I am sure that the Government will find someone who is interested and capable. And without strings attached.
Joe Scerri
Dec 18th 2011, 12:31
Why am I inclined to believe a former convict but not the government? Enough said.
Jeffrey Mallia
Dec 18th 2011, 13:20
Because you've got Blue contact lenses :)
Tonio Bone
Dec 18th 2011, 14:40
Because the former convict is corroborating court testimony which has just condemned a person to 12 years in prison. It is not a case to believe someone rather than another, it is a question to see who was in charge at the time and to ask the necessary questions!
When a person is given the responsability to run an important and high risk institution such as the prisons, he or she either have the attributes to do it the right way or otherwise he/she should refrain. If this person has taken the responsability and the perks that go with it, he should shoulder all the good that was done, but also all the bad. ACCOUNTABILITY IS KEY!
francis Buhagiar
Dec 18th 2011, 15:43
because none of the MP's have been in there.
Robert Pace Bonello
Dec 18th 2011, 11:39
Please keep up the pressure
j brincat
Dec 18th 2011, 11:17
@Jo Grima
"why is it every time we face a problem in Malta , the minister is asked to resign, have we got no better suggestions ?? i find it pathetic"
What do you expect that we shower them with praise?
All who are supposed to be accountable should immediately resign once they are found lacking, as happens in the civilised world.
If you find it pathetic then it's your problem!
(jb)
Christian Sciberras
Dec 18th 2011, 13:59
It's pathetic to make someone resign and put his brother, cousin, relative etc in his place.
It's pathetic exactly because it doesn't fix the problem, and those accountable do not get their just treatment.
Let's say I ended up in prison for 2 months, with the current situation there's a good chance I end up as a drug addict in there.
So, speaking up, at most I might get a minister to resign. That's it? That's all?
Heck, I'd get more satisfaction taking the matters into my hand during parliament, if you get my drift.
And of course it is our problem, people don't act within law, they want to resign this and that, not jail, fine or remove someone's rights because of what s/he did.
No, I don't expect a minister to be jailed for not keeping checks on the prison, but I'd expected warders to be prosecuted for failing their duty and allowing drugs in.
j brincat
Dec 18th 2011, 11:14
Reading these terrifying going ons, one would think that this is an excerpt from the biography of Pablo Escobar, the biggest drug lord that ever existed, and not about inmates at Corradino Prisons.
Obviously no one will resign as they all conveniently play at the proverbial three .
Goes on to show how seriously things are taken non Mickey Mouse Island.
Will the minister responsible at least refuse the astronomical €500 which he has been taking since 2008?
(jb)
Robert Agius
Dec 18th 2011, 14:01
At least Escobar gave something to the community....
Tonio Bone
Dec 18th 2011, 10:56
We need an urgent reform of the prison system, possibly not on the same model as the ARRIVA one! We need to adopt a zero tolerance and a by-the-book administration of the prisons to make them serve their purpose.
We have paid hundred of thousands if not millions of euros in consultancy fees. If the Maltese are not up to it, why not bring a professional from overseas with no more than a two year non-extendable contract to run the place the way it should be, possibly with no family in Malta to avoid the threat option just in case?
Gave up on the accountability issue so best look forward and start from a clean, professional and serious state of affairs!
jere roughton
Dec 18th 2011, 10:51
what needs to be done is n investigation on s gatt and the current director and the police will check their bank accounts of this time and see if there was more ingoing in there accounts than usuall if so ask where it came from if they come out with a good reason ok but i doubt it . and of course the prison is on a communications shut down they are getting a bit paranoid now because the sh!! has hit the fan and i hope they all get locked up aswel this is a serious problem and something is very unusual because nobody is doing anything about it and this is very fishy a big fish is involved and that is the problem and this is just going to fade away like the other investigations why wont a minister or a goverment official that is in charge of these affairs stand up and work for the 500 euro bonus he or she got and use our tax money for a purpose
joe briffa
Dec 18th 2011, 10:50
Lets take this straight to the point,I am sure that everybody knows at Corradino who this king and queen are,because with such security you are not even allowed to do anything privately....wake up sleepy heads...
Tonio Bone
Dec 18th 2011, 11:04
Joe they know, the same way they know who imports drugs on this island, yet nothing is done! The common unacceptable excuse is that 'its the same all over the world'. What some people do not realise is that we need to protect our own little world and that we need to emulate others only in things that make us better.
And then how can you be a king or queen and go unnoticed?
mark borg
Dec 18th 2011, 10:43
One could only imagine the PN propaganda machine if one tenth of this mayhem took place under a Labour Government...imagine how scandalised and what trumpets they would be blowing by now !! The PN = Biggest Hypocrites in Malta’s entire history......
Carmel Grima
Dec 18th 2011, 10:36
Jekk ma nisbaljax, fil-konferenza generali tal-MLP, f'Jannar 2009, ta' wara l-elezzoni, Dr Ang. Farrugia kellu jressaq mozzjoni biex kull ministru fil-gvern ikun jista, jigi processat ghall-korruzzjoni li jista' jkun responsabbli ghalija hu sa 30 sena preskrizzjoni. Din veru u jekk iva ghaliex ma ghaddietx, forsi kilulu wiccu shabu stess?
V. Cauchi
Dec 18th 2011, 10:33
"The Prime Minister yesterday said he had nothing to add to a statement issued by the government on Friday, saying he felt it addressed the issues raised."
If this is all the Prime Minister has to say, certainly not recognising the high importance of the issue to national security or while attempting to divert attention from information which might overturn the people's mind about the goings-on in our ministries and prisons, it is high time the President of the Republic steps in.
More than the founding of a Second Republic, the President should be cognizant of the duties he PRESENTLY has of seeing that "his" government is fulfilling its general duties well in the best interest of country and citizens. It is known that every now and then a meeting is held between the President and the Prime Minister during which the PM keeps the President informed of developments in the country. There is nothing fixed in writing about these meetings or when they should be held, but it is only a convention we have inherited from the British system where the PM keeps in contact with the Monarch.
I do not see any reason why, in the wake of all current developments of the prison system and the replies given by government about the issue, the President should not summon the Prime Minister for an extraordinary meeting to thrash things out in the national interest. As it is, most crises develop not from the original event itself (drugs inside the prison) but from the undemocratic and double-spoken cover-up given afterwards, with various government statements giving the impression that government could not care less about the whole issue and that it is in complete denial.
People care about the government they have elected, not having to wait for another election before expressing their approval or otherwise of an administration. People also care that they have a guardian of their constitution and they believe he is not only a figurehead but the "father" of a nation who should see to the workings of a genuine democracy where government is responsible to the people not only in the House generally, but also in its executive day to day business and, overall, that it does not show a TRUTH DEFICIT which results in demeaning the people's faith in democracy, especially where a Prime Minister and top party and government ministers are concerned.
Ms Lucia Davies
Dec 18th 2011, 10:32
and the poor workers struggle to pay their bills and bring up their children as honest as they can,,, what happens to the young prisoners that enter prison the first time are they reformed or come out worst then when they went in, it is a disgrace to Malta and the honest Maltese worker
Tonio Bone
Dec 18th 2011, 10:31
The prisons need reform, but hopefully not on the ARRIVA model if you get my drift! The solutions here are quite simple actually: zero tolerance and by the book administration. If the Maltese can't handle it, instead of paying hundred of thousands of euros for consultancy on anything immaginable, let's get a foreigner to run the place on his own terms and make sure he is not in office for more than two years max!
Another solution would be to house the long term detainees in a separate location within the Corradino grounds.
I would go easy on the word corruption here as there could be threats made without us knowing, but on the accountability issue, again, zero tolerance!
Patrick Zammit
Dec 18th 2011, 10:15
Where are a pair of strong hands when you need them?
stephen koludrovic
Dec 18th 2011, 15:58
Usually fingering the buck that stopped there!!!
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Dec 18th 2011, 09:40
The minister involved should resign to say the least. .malta is becoming more like Mexico by the day. Corruption is becoming the normality
Victor Vella
Dec 18th 2011, 10:01
What? The minister resigns? Where he can find an employer giving him 600€16 a week just for nothing other than for his incompetency, ignorance and a truth mocker. Corruption is the order of the PN and today we are reaping the politics of `libertinagg bla kontrol`. There is only one thing if you want to get rid of this corrupted regime that is kind with the criminals and hard with honest people- Vote LABOUR.
Jo Grima
Dec 18th 2011, 10:23
why is it every time we face a problem in Malta , the minister is asked to resign, have we got no better suggestions ?? i find it pathetic
Tonio Bone
Dec 18th 2011, 10:36
I agree with Jo Grima on the minister here, but someone SHOULD be held accountable. As I have written before this is either a case of corruption or a matter of people being threatened to abide! If anything, we need a clear signal that things will change.....drastically!
Luciano Borg
Dec 18th 2011, 10:47
Dear Mr Seychell, you find it pathetic that Mr Zammit said the minister should resign! Well, of course the minister should resign! And all those who are being paid thousands of euros to ensure that our prison systems are run efficiently and according to the law should resign. Our ministers should look at Japanese politics to LEARN when a minister should resign. Unfortunately, our closest democratic government is in Italy, where ministers HARDLY EVER RESIGN. Result: The Italian government failed and ALL the ministers were removed from their post.
Charles Mangion
Dec 18th 2011, 09:20
If Mr Zammit the now Prison director was Mr Gatt assistant shurely knows what happened how come prisoners knows beforehand when surches are going to be made get the drug squad and sag to get to prison unespected without the prison authoritis knows beforehand including Mr Zammit to do the searches Mr Police Commisiner take note C.Mangion
J Curmi
Dec 18th 2011, 11:04
Sur Mangion...jkun ahjar jekk tikteb bil-Malti.......
Jay Oatmon
Dec 18th 2011, 09:15
A disgrace for Malta and a spineless government unwilling to clean out this can of worms properly - all we get is half baked excuses. Why is this happening - certain people involved (convicts and prison officials are making money, they have no interest in stopping drugs in the prison. Then we have a toothless government which does nothing, and is full of excuses for the corruption and incompetence around us.
mark borg
Dec 18th 2011, 10:44
SPOT ON !
Charles Sammut
Dec 18th 2011, 11:08
I would like to correct you Jay. The government is far from spineless and toothless.....on the contrary, it has fangs which bite deeply into us taxpayers!
The reason that the aligonzi regime refuses to clean out the can of worms is because if it does, there will be no one left at Castille. We, the VOTERS are sick and tired of reading about the corruption which is so rife in the aligonziPN, however all we do is whinge and moan without taking any action!
We need to forget about partisan politics and march upon Castille and demand the resignation of wenzu and all his cohorts and parasites!
....and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on......