Labour MP calls for investigation into irregularities at CCF

Labour's spokesman for home affairs Michael Falzon this morning reiterated the high percentage - a third - of inmates at Corradino Correctional Facility (CCF) that were relapsers.

In a statement he issued last week, Falzon highlighted this point and added that this showed that the rehabilitation system at the prisons was failing.

But in a reaction, the CCF insisted that this was not the case.

He also commented on the fact that the reply from CCF had come in English: "Maybe whoever wrote that press release didn't feel comfortable writing in Maltese."

During a press conference held today, Falzon said that it didn't hold that "the crimes on which these inmates are convicted would have occurred prior to their incarceration over a period of years, and not necessarily following their release from prisoners."

"I think this justification doesn't hold. The reply was vague, maybe to intentionally mislead the public," Falzon said.

He claimed that a prison official from the accounts section was issuing invoices in his name and that "purchases were made from a shop close to this person".

He however refused to say what "the close ties were". "I'm certain of what I said because I carried my own investigation. Now it's up to the departments concerned to do their jobs."

Falzon added that personal traffic fines were also being paid from the department's funds: "I invite the pertinent audit authorities to look into this case which happened more than once."

Falzon also said that the prisons director was not involved in the recruitment of wardens and officials.

"I stand to be corrected if there's anyone who wants to contest this information. But it is not unacceptable that the highest authority within the prisons is not involved," he insisted.

Asked why the director should be involved when there was an appointed board responsible for such tasks, Falzon replied with another question: "Why should the director general be excluded?"

Asked whether a Labour government would see that the director general is involved in this process, Falzon said there'd be nothing wrong in doing so. "What is certain is that we will not allow Home Affairs to be part of a Prime Minister's portfolio, operated by remote control from Castille," he added.

"What is certain is that we would not leave the state of affairs as they are today."

Despite repeated denials by the department for correctional services, Falzon said that buying products from the prisons' canteen was more expensive than buying it from outside shops. He also questioned the lack of tendering processes.

Falzon also called for an immediate implementation of the parole that has been approved in parliament 10 months ago.