A 29-year-old prisoner, Stephen Spiteri, was found dead in his cell bed yesterday morning but the authorities are not suspecting foul play.
The death, the second in prison in under six months, immediately ignited a political controversy with Labour spokesman Michael Falzon calling for an “urgent, serious and profound” review of all aspects of prison operations. The Justice and Home Affairs Ministry, in turn, accused Dr Falzon of trying to score political points on the back of the prisoner’s unfortunate demise.
Mr Spiteri, originally from Fgura, was serving a four-and-a-half year jail term for aggravated theft and was being kept in a cell alone in Division 11, considered one of the newest and most comfortable blocks in Corradino. The inmate, who had a son, had an extensive criminal record and a number of pending court cases.
Acting prison director Abraham Zammit said the cause of death could not yet be established and the police were investigating.
Prison sources said there were no signs of external violence or any form of foul play adding Mr Spiteri was found in bed with his body covered normally with a blanket, as if he died in his sleep.
A drug overdose was not being suspected either since he was not found frothing at the mouth – which was usually the case in overdoses – and even though he had a history of drug addiction, he was finishing a course of methadone (heroin treatment) and it was unlikely for him to have been taking any other drugs, the same sources said. An autopsy will be carried out tomorrow.
Mr Zammit said the prisoner was certified dead by a doctor from the Paola health centre. The police were informed about the case since the cause of death could not be established. Duty Magistrate Gabriella Vella opened an inquiry.
Dr Falzon said a review was overdue and the Labour Party had often raised the matter beofre, pointing out that various allegations, including claims of sexual abuse by officials, drug misuse, physical abuse and basic shortcomings, had been made.
“This situation is unacceptable and should not be allowed to continue,” he said, pointing out the allegations shed bad light on all those who worked in prison, which should not be the case considering these did their utmost in difficult circumstances.
“It’s enough to point out that the last time a prison warden was appointed was in 2005 when the prison population was much smaller. And for the past two and a half years the prison has been operating with an acting director.”
The Justice Ministry condemned the Dr Falzon’s “insensitive” attempts to make political mileage out of a “human tragedy”. It said all allegations made in recent days were being taken seriously, adding that, last month, a call was made to recruit a director of corrective services and a number of managers were also engaged in various sectors.
Other steps were being taken to improve the situation in prison where the population had grown disproportionately to the increase in staff. Among such measures were the Restorative Justice Bill, which would soon be passed through Parliament, and a task force building on recommendations of a 2009 board of inquiry, the ministry said.
Inmate Benny Muscat, 46, died last August after complaining of chest pains. The authorities said he died in the ambulance but a group of prisoners and Mr Muscat’s family claimed he was not tended to by the prison doctor in time despite crying out in pain.