No command or control inside Corradino prisons under Zammit

A glaring lack of accountability at all levels inside the Corradino Correctional Facility led to a lack of will to address internal problems inside the state prison, a board of inquiry that investigated truancy among prison warders found.

In their report, published by the home affairs and national security ministry, the committee found that it was manifestly clear that there was no "command and control" inside the prison and that this led to a deterioration of the procedural system.

"It was evidence that the lack of structure made it easy for those who were supposed to bear certain responsibilities, to exonerate themselves from their responsibility without any fear of consequence," the board - led by Frankie Mercieca, and comprising Patrick Murgo and Natalino Attard - said.

The inquiry was kick-started following a surprise visit by home affairs minister Manuel Mallia which resulted in finding seven prison warders away without leave. Mallia said the findings were serious in terms of the security implications this had for the prison.

The inquiry board found that warders would punch out at will before their shifts were over, while one official in the rank of major would tippex time entries belonging to the CCF's main gate log book, and amend them at will.

The minister's visit and his own findings prompted the instant resignation of CCF director Abraham Zammit.