A 24-year-old woman, who was sent to prison on drug charges three days after Christmas, lost her baby apparently after being given methadone for her drug habit.

A statement by Fondazzjoni Daritama said it could be the woman herself did not know she was pregnant, nor did the prison or hospital authorities realise she was, despite taking a urine sample.

Daritama said the woman lost her baby due to the negligence of the authorities and asked for an investigation into the matter.

In a reply, the Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs said the Prison Visitors Board is already holding an investigation. One contributing factor, the statement added, could have been that the woman did not inform the prison authorities of her next of kin, so they could not be contacted.