The third suicide in custody in a matter of three months has prompted the Opposition to call for the resignation of the Home Affairs Minister.
A 45-year-old Briton being held by police yesterday died at Mater Dei Hospital after harming himself at Mount Carmel Hospital’s forensic unit.
According to sources the man had been charged in connection with drug offences and required treatment.
In a statement, the Home Affairs Ministry said that it had ordered an internal inquiry. The police are investigating the incident while Magistrate Gabriella Vella is conducting an inquiry.
The ministry would not comment further when asked what was being done to prevent similar incidents. The ministry was “seriously looking into the matter” a spokeswoman said, adding that any required action would be taken “immediately” following the outcome of the investigations.
“Further statements in this regard will be made in the coming days. It is sad to note that the Opposition is once again acting immaturely and trying to turn such a tragic situation into a political football.”
The ministry was reacting to the PN’s statement that Mr Abela should assume responsibility for the third fatality in custody in the last three months.
“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 takes ages to be concluded and is not necessarily published,” PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami said.
For the sake of accountability and credibility, the minister should give up the post since he was “incompetent” and had lost control of the situation, the PN said.
Yesterday’s case follows that of 36-year-old Marlon Oto Kai Hanratty from Stuttgart, who was found hanged at the Floriana police lock-up in December.
In October, Martin Fenech, 39, from Żejtun, died an hour after he was found with a bed sheet around his neck at the police headquarters.
According to the Mental Health Act, there are three distinct categories of patients who can be detained in licensed forensic facilities. These include people under observation by the court pending a decision on their mental status at the time of committing a crime, those detained in the correctional services who developed mental disorders while in detention and those declared by the Court to be insane in terms of the Criminal Code.
Without entering into the merits of yesterday’s incident, Mental Health Commissioner John Cachia said when contacted that Mount Carmel’s Forensic Ward at could receive any of these three cases.
Irrespective of the legal status of the person, the ward was an extension of the correctional facility, under the responsibility of the prison authorities and where prison regulations of detention applied.
“Prevention of suicide requires regular assessment of risk and managing any identified risks. Suicide watch is only one of several mitigation measures of suicide risk management.
“From a patient rights’ perspective, the office of the Commissioner for Mental Health insists that persons are treated with dignity at all times while ensuring their maximum protection from self-harm.
“From our inspections, we are aware that there are number of suicide mitigation measures available at the Forensic Ward, including electronic surveillance,” he said.