A prisoner has been found dead in his prison cell on Wednesday morning.
The man, an Indian national, was found dead in Division 4 during the guard handover.
In a short statement, the Correction Services Agency confirmed that the man was found at around 6:30am by prison guards.
Preliminary investigations, the agency said, found that the man's death seems to have been a suicide. The Agency also said that a note had been found near the man.
A magisterial inquiry is being led by duty magistrate Nadine Lia.
The prison's chief has since suspended himself from his post.
This is the 14th death in prison since the controversial Colonel Alexander Dalli took over the leadership of the Corradino Correctional Facility.
The family of Kim Nicolas Borg Virtu, one of the inmates who died in prison this year, has filed a constitutional case against the prison's leadership and the state, claiming that a prison guard had helped his daughter kill herself.
Two high-ranking wardens are facing charges of involuntary homicide after a magisterial inquiry determined that they should be held criminally responsible for the inmate's death.
Reactions
Reactions to the news started to pour in on Wednesday morning, with NGOs and activists putting renewed pressure on Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri to shoulder responsibility and for prison chief Colonel Alex Dalli to be removed from his post immediately.
NGO Repubblika in a statement called for the dismissal of both Camilleri and Dalli.
Alex Dalli continuing to hold the post of Director of Corradino Correctional Facilities has proven to be dangerous to the lives of the prisoners under his care, the NGO said.
"Dalli’s methods and disciplinary actions where he exercises his power to incite fear over the prisoners at the facility have once again caused another death today," they said.
They noted that while the case is still under investigation, they could not deny the fact that these frequent deaths occurring within a relatively short amount of time is unacceptable in any democratic prison.
"Alex Dalli’s words and actions consistently show belligerent and proto-fascist tendencies. The prison must be run under sufficient democratic norms and should consequently employ qualified and appropriate people for the job. In Corradino’s case, the prison is under operation by someone who seeks power and violence and has a convenient close relationship with [Former PM] Joseph Muscat," they said.
The NGO said that Dalli’s political defence is no longer justifiable and added that Minister Camilleri must assume political responsibility for his "obstinacy which is costing the lives of more people under the state’s care."
"The removal of Byron Camilleri is now necessary," they concluded.
NGO Aditus Foundation said: "Alexander Dalli must be removed immediately. No waiting for the conclusions of yet another inquiry, no suspension pending investigation and no resignation. He needs to be removed by Minister Byron Camilleri with immediate effect."
In a statement, Moviment Graffitti said that “were this the first incident it would require an investigation. However, this being the 14th death in just over two years, it requires nothing less than the immediate dismissal of prison director Alexander Dalli and the assumption of political responsibility by Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri, who has steadfastly stood by the despotic Dalli despite the alarming rate at which inmates are leaving prison walls in body bags.”
“What should be a correctional and rehabilitation facility is now a place of death and terror,” the NGO said.
Activist Andre Callus, who is one of the leading figures of NGO Moviment Graffitti meanwhile said that Dalli has repeatedly shown that he is a "very dangerous individual, not only to prisoners but also to society."
He said that whoever is allowing a "psychopath" to lead prison has to shoulder the weight of these deaths and the damage which is being done to society on their shoulders.
He noted that the problem in prison goes beyond Dalli, but said that the removal of the prison chief has to happen immediately. "The fact that he is still there despite all of the deaths and all of the terrifying stories which have come out shows the fascist attitudes of politicians and authorities," Callus said.
The dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, Professor Andrew Azzopardi said the suspension of the prison director alone is not enough.
Malta’s recidivism rate, lack of prison education and prison work, over populated cells, the militarization of the prison, the ethos of 'fear', lack of Standard Operating Procedures, the weakened committees, to name just a few is further evidence that the status quo has proven failure on many if not all counts.
“Efforts towards credible prison reform have been hampered by the systematic exclusion of policy-makers, journalists, academics, and other professionals, who are still restricted in accessing vital data about what is taking place within the prison environment,” he said.
A punitive system that operates on principles of terror is incapable of safeguarding healthy social development. Lowering Malta’s unacceptably high recidivism rate and intergenerational crime cannot take place in this context of fear, currently percolating in Corradino. Impediments to necessary reforms, for a modern and effective model of corrections, must be addressed as part of a long-term strategy for the future under a single, united parliamentary commitment.
“We must be clear that the Director Colonel is not the beginning and the end of all the problems currently faced in Malta’s prison system. The quality of reforms needed to ensure that individuals receive credible rehabilitation are far-reaching, and they must invite a cultural transformation in Maltese society, to promote and prioritise the dignity of all inmates whilst ensuring the support that all victims deserve,” Azzopardi said.
“Meaningful efforts to safeguard human life and dignity, especially when those lives are in the direct care of the state, must become a national priority. Reforming Corradino Correctional Facility is a commitment that demands united and urgent action.”
Victim Support Malta, in cooperation with the Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity provides Suicide Prevention, Outreach and Therapeutic Services (SPOT) to support and assist those who have been affected by suicide as well as individuals who have had a suicidal attempt or plan 6 months prior. If you have been affected by suicide, and would like to access our SPOT services, get in touch with us by contacting Victim Support Malta on + 356 2122 8333 or send us an email on [email protected]