A 34-year-old detainee, Aboubaker Diakite, has been sentenced to seven years in prison after admitting to arson and substantial property damage arising from a 2022 fire at the Ħal Far Detention Centre. The incident occurred on 5 May 2022 inside Block D, where more than 20 detainees later required hospital treatment for smoke inhalation.
Testimony presented in court described how, shortly before the fire, Detention Services Officer Maria Dolores Mallia heard Diakite shouting from a window, throwing a broomstick outside, and issuing a threat indicating retaliation. Approximately 30 minutes later, Diakite entered a bathroom area within Zone B and used flammable material to set a mattress alight while other occupants remained inside the building.
Fellow detainee Ali Mohamed Ali witnessed the ignition. He intervened directly and managed to remove a lighter from Diakite, preventing the ignition of additional mattresses. In response, Diakite began damaging fittings in the bathroom, including a water pipe, adding to the destruction.
Court experts emphasised the seriousness of the situation. David Borg Saydon noted that the locked doors throughout the block significantly increased the potential for catastrophe, as evacuation would have been impeded. Another expert, Dr Lennox Vella, assessed the wilful damage at €5,370.
Diakite faced charges of intentionally setting fire to a residence while it was occupied and of causing property damage exceeding €2,000. A plea agreement under Article 453A of the Criminal Code was submitted earlier in the week. After being formally cautioned regarding the consequences of his admission, Diakite confirmed his guilty plea on Thursday.
The court accepted the plea arrangement and imposed a seven-year term of imprisonment, with credit for time already spent in preventive custody. Diakite was also ordered to pay €1,857.19 in expert-related court costs within one year, failing which the sum would be converted into an additional prison term.
Judge Conselo Scerri Herrera presided over the proceedings.