Colonel Alex Dalli has suspended himself from his position as CEO of the Correctional Services Agency with immediate effect.
The suspensions comes after the suspected suicide of an inmate overnight – the 14th death of an inmate under Dalli’s watch.
In a short statement, the Home Affairs Ministry said that Dalli has suspended himself from the agency immediately after a meeting with Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri early on Wednesday morning.
The Ministry said that an inquiry into the operation of Corradino Correctional Facility led by a board of experts kicked off some weeks ago is still ongoing. The ministry added that the inquiry will serve as the basis for "more holistics reforms" at the prison.
Robert Brincau has been appointed as the Acting CEO Correctional Services Agency in Dalli’s stead. Brincau leads the detention services and for a number of years was the Director of Operations at Red Cross Malta.
Dalli has been under significant pressure to step aside over a worrying number of deaths within the prison's walls and over stories emerging about questionable practices - including torture and solitary confinement - being used. He has however continued - until now, it seems - to receive the backing of the government, with government-friendly media even running stories aimed at discrediting former inmates who have decided to speak out against Dalli's leadership.
The pressure has since extended to Home Affairs Minister Camilleri, with many questioning why the government minister had failed to take action against Dalli despite the accusations and allegations that he was facing.
An Indian national became the 14th person to die in prison under Dalli's watch on Wednesday. He was found dead in his cell in Division 4 of the prison by guards on Wednesday morning, and the Correctional Services Agency have since said that the man seemed to have committed suicide.
A magisterial inquiry is being led by duty magistrate Nadine Lia.
Dalli's suspension - ironically - comes on the day that two of his prison wardens will be in court as they face charges of involuntary homicide in connection with the suicide of another prison inmate - Kim Nicolas Borg Virtu.