Former European Court of Human Rights judge Giovanni Bonello feels “hurt and upset” that the criminal who stole his father’s priceless paintings almost 10 years ago has walked out of prison early thanks to the Government’s amnesty to mark its electoral victory.

Counterproductive and obscene- PN

Ian Farrugia, one of a group of men who had dug a tunnel underneath Dr Bonello’s house in Valletta and made off with a collection of priceless paintings left the Corradino Correctional Facility on Friday after benefitting from a reduction in his jail term.

The controversial amnesty granting prisoners a reduction of 100 days from their sentence was announced last Tuesday by Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia during a visit to the prison facility. Inmates predictably reacted with glee, shaking hands and embracing the minister.

A total of 143 inmates will be released early from prison by the end of the year as a result of the amnesty. Of these, 32 left prison between Thursday and Friday.

The amnesty was criticised by victims of crime who expressed shock that the people who wronged them were being released early. The amnesty does not apply to rapists, human traffickers and prisoners convicted of abusing minors.

Contacted yesterday, Dr Bonello said he felt “hurt and upset” that the person who had stolen his father’s treasures left prison prematurely.

He would not be drawn into commenting on the decision to grant the amnesty and neither on the amnesty itself.

Dr Bonello said the paintings were purchased by his late father, a poor man, who saved every penny he had to buy them.

“They were my father’s treasures after he put money aside all his life to buy this collection. One night all that went up in smoke,” Dr Bonello said.

Mr Farrugia had also been charged in connection with the 1994 attempted murder in Mdina of Richard Cachia Caruana, who at the time was personal assistant to former Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami. He was acquitted by a jury despite the fact that his hand print was on Mr Cachia Caruana’s vehicle.

In October 2011, a magistrate jailed Mr Farrugia for seven years after a re-trial when the fingerprints found on a plastic bag used to cover the paintings, which included a Caravaggio, was deemed sufficient for a conviction.

Mr Farrugia had earlier been cleared of the crime after a magistrate had ruled that the circumstantial evidence was not enough to convict the accused.

The case went before a court of Criminal Appeal which ruled that the Magistrates’ Court had committed two procedural errors and sent the case back to be reheard.

The court had heard that not only was there this scientific proof but Mr Farrugia had given a painting to an accomplice to keep under his bed.

Announcing the amnesty to some 500 inmates, Dr Mallia said the amnesty was intended as a gesture of goodwill to help in the rehabilitation of prisoners.

But Opposition home affairs spokesman Jason Azzopardi slammed the move, saying it sent the wrong message.

Contacted yesterday, Dr Azzopardi confirmed that two inmates had left prison on Friday without completing their court-imposed drug rehabilitation programme.

“This is obscene and counterproductive. What message are we sending out there? Is society better off with these two drug addicts out there without first completing their rehabilitation? Are they better off? And like them there will be many more. Now that they left prison, there is nothing imposing the drug rehabilitation programme,” he said.

A ministry spokesman, however, denied that they could simply stop their rehabilitation programme.

Inmates who left prison between Thursday and Friday

12: Convicted of theft
1: Escaped from police custody
1: In Malta illegally
6: Drug trafficking
3: Drug possession
1: Threats
2: Fines converted into a jail term
1: Breach of probation
2: Lack of payment of maintenance
1: Handling stolen property
1: Dangerous driving
1: Violence against public officers