A Nigerian inmate is calling on the prison director to pay him damages for jewellery which he is claiming was stolen from him while he was in prison.

Joseph Feilazoo filed proceedings, in the Small Claims’ Tribunal, against the director of the Corradino Correctional Facility.

He is claiming that several personal items had been stolen from prison. These included a belt, a pair of sunglasses, a bottle of perfume, a gold ring, a silver ring, three earrings and a pendent on a chain.

Today, Yana Micallef Stafrace, who chaired the tribunal, heard David Scerri testify that the prison director has asked him to check the luggage of Mr Feilazoo that was kept in a store at the prison. The luggage was empty.

Ms Scerri explained that, when a foreigner was arrested and eventually jailed, their luggage was kept in the store. Inside the luggage authorities usually kept items such as glass objects or a belt with a large buckle. Jewellery was kept in the record office.

Last year, Mr Feilazoo had filed a judicial protest claiming that when he was jailed for 12 years in August 2008 for importing drugs into Malta he had in his possession valuable items including jewellery.

These were taken from him by the prison authorities on entering jail but he was not given a receipt. He then discovered some items were no longer in the possession of the prison authorities.

He asked for an investigation and wanted to file a police report.

But, he said, the prison director only allowed him to file the report after he insisted for several months during which time he tried to send letters to the Police Commissioner, the Home Affairs’ Minister, the prison director and to Times of Malta.

Police took his statement in November 2013.