Career criminal Alfred Bugeja, Il-Porporina, is refusing to eat as he challenges the results of urine tests ordered by the prison authorities that found traces of heroin in his system.

A spokeswoman for the Home Affairs Ministry confirmed Mr Bugeja, 56, was claiming he had not eaten anything since Friday.

She said he proved positive to heroin during a routine urine test carried out on August 27. Mr Bugeja admitted to Corradino Correctional Facility’s manager he had taken drugs but then changed his version insisting he had not consumed any illegal substances, the spokeswoman said.

As was normal procedure in such circumstances, some of the inmate’s privileges were suspended.

He was not allowed to see visitors and could not have access to food prepared outside prison. The duration of the suspension depended on his behaviour, she added.

She said Mr Bugeja was still being kept in his cell and was being monitored by medical staff.

The inmate has a long list of convictions, mainly theft-related.

In April 2010, Mr Bugeja was jailed for seven years for stealing a car and its contents, including a shotgun. The court had pointed out he had 52 previous convictions and his criminal record consisted of 49 pages.

In November 2012, he was jailed for another two years and four months after he was found guilty of attempted theft from the Mid-Med Bank branch at the university in 1992.

A group of foreign inmates had participated in two hunger strikes in June and July 2013.

They claimed they were not given the same treatment as Maltese inmates and also demanded to be repatriated.

The hunger strikes lasted about 24 hours.

A Home Affairs Ministry spokeswoman had said at the time that inmates had a right to strike and would not face disciplinary proceedings.