First uploaded Monday 12.30pm. Last Updated Tuesday 7am - A CCTV camera was installed in the room at Mount Carmel Hospital where a Briton detained on drug-related offences hanged himself, and there was another outside in the corridor, the Times of Malta has learnt.
The footage is being examined by the police, sources said.
Home Affairs minister Carmelo Abela announced in Parliament yesterday that an internal inquiry has been appointed to look into what happened - alongside a Magisterial inquiry.
The Opposition called for a public magisterial inquiry and said that an internal inquiry was a cover up.
The 45-year-old man, who was arrested on New Year’s Eve, was being kept under suicide watch following suspicions he could harm himself.
George Busuttil, the director of Mid-Dlam Għad-Dawl,which works with prison inmates, former prisoners and their families, said he expected to see a higher degree of surveillance in the forensic unit, especially when dealing with a newly admitted person.
“A mother of a person kept at the forensic unit would be beside herself with worry right now. The least one would expect is for vulnerable people in the forensic unit to be detained under maximum security, not only by ensuring they don’t escape but also by ensuring that, in a moment of desperation, they do not harm themselves,” he said.
The prison chaplain regretted that he was not called to assist.
Mr Abela told Parliament that early on Saturday the prison authorities were informed that a Briton held in preventive custody on a drugs charge had attempted suicide in the forensics unit of Mt Carmel Hospital. He was taken to hospital where he passed away.
Mr Abela said he wished to offer his condolences to the victim's relatives.
Suicide attempts in such circumstances were not rare, in Malta and abroad, he said, but they were regretted in all cases. In most cases the people were saved thanks to prompt action.
The ministry, he said, had appointed an internal inquiry to review what had happened and also to review procedures and regulations. The inquiry would establish whether there was any negligence, in which case disciplinary action would be recommended.
The inquiry would also make recommendations on ways to avoid a repetition.
The inquiry will be headed by Josephine Abdilla, director of human resources at Mcast.
At the same time, the minister said, the Prison Visitors' Board was also evaluating conditions at the police lock-up and the forensics unit in Mt Carmel Hospital. The board is headed by Dr Andre’ Camilleri. The report will be ready in eight weeks’ time.
Concluding, the minister referred to the death of Nicholas Azzopardi at the time of the former government, when then ministers had said such cases should not be a political football.
Beppe Fenech Adami, shadow minister of home affairs, said the ministerial statement made no reference to the fact that this was the third death of a person in custody in three months.
He feared that the minister was not realising the seriousness of the situation.
The first case also involved a person allegedly involved in drugs.
The second case involved a foreigner who died at police headquarters. The day after, the Police Commissioner had held an 'obscene' press conference where no proper explanation of what had happened was given. Instead, the people were told this was a homeless person with a drug problem, as if they could excuse anything.
Dr Fenech Adami referred to comments made earlier by the minister to the press. What had taken place, he said, would have shocked the country in normal circumstances.
In the last legislature, when Nicholas Azzopardi committed suicide in police headquarters, two magisterial inquiries were held, results were published and still the Labour Party had demanded the resignation of the then minister of home affairs.
And now the minister was acting like it was business as usual. He should assume his political responsibilities.
PUBLIC INQUIRY
Jason Azzopardi, shadow minister of justice, said the minister had appointed a board of inquiry to conduct a cover-up. Why not hold a public magisterial inquiry rather than an internal inquiry by a board which included a member - Mario Schembri - who did not deserve to sit on the board?
The Labour Party before the election promised greater monitoring at police headquarters.
The minister had said such cases should not be a political football, yet following the death of Nicholas Azzopardi a motion of no confidence had been moved against the former minister and minister Evarist Bartolo even published a book.
Other speakers included Francis Zammit Dimech, Chris Said and Marlene Farrugia.
Concluding, Mr Abela said the situation was grave, which was why he had appointed the internal inquiry along with the Magisterial inquiry with deadlines. But Dr Fenech Adami had been negative and his comments were obscene. The Opposition speakers were showing by their comments that they had no confidence in the magisterial inquiry.
Intervening, Chris Said (PN) said the Opposition had called for a public magisterial inquiry.
Continuing, the minister said the fact that the inquiry was internal did not mean that the findings would not be published. It made no difference whether the victims were foreigners or Maltese.
The government would not hide behind any inquiry, but results should be awaited, the minister said. Action would be taken wherever it was needed. But it was worth pointing out that a Council of Europe delegation's visit last September showed that facilities in prisons were greatly improved over the past.
CALL FOR RESIGNATION REBUFFED
Earlier yesterday Mr Abela shunned calls for his resignation.
The Home Affairs Minister said he was not one to run away from problems but he "shouldered responsibility".
He was asked about the death of a man held in custody at Mount Carmel Hospital's forensic ward last Saturday after presiding over the inauguration of the army's rapid deployment facility at Hatwharf.
Two other individuals died at the police lock-up over the past few weeks. All cases are suspected suicides but magisterial inquiries are still ongoing.
Mr Abela said that later today he would announce measures the government would be taking as a result of these deaths.
He said an independent internal inquiry would look into the latest case.
The Opposition has called for Mr Abela's resignation and demanded responsibility be shouldered.
"In no other democratic country would a minister responsible for the police retain his place when faced with such tragedies. In no other democratic country would a minister keep hiding behind a magisterial inquiry which always take ages to be concluded and are not necessarily published," PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami said on Saturday.
For the sake of accountability and credibility, the minister should quit the post, since he is "incompetent" and has lost control of the situation, he added.