Terminally ill prisoner Godfrey Ellul is seeking a presidential pardon after his request to spend his remaining time with his loved ones was denied by the parole authorities.

Mr Ellul, 67, who was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, among other illnesses, must serve another six years in prison.

In 2002, Mr Ellul, a former drug addict, had been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for conspiring to deal in drugs.

The Times of Malta is informed that the petition for a presidential pardon, filed by Mr Ellul’s lawyer Joe Giglio, is now before Justice Minister Owen Bonnici who, by law, must make his recommendation.

Questions about the matter sent to Dr Bonnici yesterday were still unanswered at the time of writing.

The board arrived at its decision in the light of the professional advice given by the consultants

Mr Ellul’s sister, Betta, yesterday told this newspaper the petition was a last ditch attempt to give her brother a chance to be with his loved ones as he suffered his illness.

Earlier this week, a spokesman for the Parole Board said the decision not to uphold Mr Ellul’s request was based on recommendations by consultants at Mater Dei Hospital. “The board arrived at its decision in the light of the professional advice given by the consultants for the serious disease indicated by the inmate,” the spokesman said.

Ms Ellul said her brother’s surgeon, Walter Busuttil, had sent an e-mail to the board confirming that his patient was suffering from terminal illness.

Ms Ellul said that she was stunned to learn of the board’s decision despite the surgeon’s recommendation.

The surgeon judged Mr Ellul’s long-term prognosis to be “poor” and said he was also suffering from a heart disease that could also be life-threatening.

A spokeswoman for the Home Affairs Ministry said there “is no legal provision for release from prison on compassionate grounds”.

The Parole Board spokesman said that, before a decision on parole was made, inmates’ applications, various reports and court sentences would be evaluated. The board also followed the progress of the applicant.

The parole request was made in July after Mr Ellul was first diagnosed with lung cancer.