Inmate dies at CCF after suffering chest pains in prison

The inmate - identified as Benny Muscat, 46 of Bormla - was medicated for chest pains and transferred to Mater Dei Hospital where he died soon after he was admitted.

It was only thirteen hours after the Muscat's death that the media were informed of this death with a statement issued by the Acting Director of Prisons through the Department of Information (DOI) at 12.15 pm today.

According to the prison authorities, yesterday at about 9.15pm, the prisoner complained that he was suffering from pain “in the upper torso”. The prison officers on duty contacted the Facility’s duty medical officer (MO).

The prison authorities explained how the officers “took care of the inmate until the duty medical officer arrived”.

“An ambulance was promptly requested” and the inmate was transferred to Mater Dei “accompanied by the CCF MO”, according to the prison authorities.

“The inmate was subsequently admitted to the Mater Dei’s ITU, where efforts to resuscitate him failed. The inmate passed away at 11 pm,” the prison authorities explained.

The case has been reported to the Police “since the cause of death of the inmate is still to be determined”, the prison authorities said in their statement.

Duty Magistrate Gabriella Vella LL.D is conducting an inquiry about the prisoner’s death in hospital.