Letters | Sunday, 07 March 2010

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Division 6 inmate’s suicide

Reference is made to the story ‘Libyan taken to Mt Carmel for allegation on prisoner’s suicide’ published on 28 February 2010.
The Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs feels it should rectify some of the inaccuracies and erroneous information that the said story is riddled with, without entering into the merits of the case of the death of inmate Barry Charles Lee since this is subject of a magisterial inquiry.
Dabid Abdul Baset, who is currently serving his 16th jail sentence since 1996, was not transferred to the Forensic Section of Mr Carmel Hospital for making statements about the demise of inmate Lee. Inmates are referred to the Forensic Section only following medical advice. In the case of Baset, the Corradino Correctional Facility’s doctor referred him to the Forensic Section after a search was conducted in his cell and he had threatened to harm himself.
Furthermore, contrary to the impression given in your article, prison regulations allow inmates at the CCF – including those in Division 6 – to have belts and shoelaces, together with bed-sheets, blankets, extra clothing and TV sets including their leads inside their cells.
Finally, kindly note that the afternoon fall-in is conducted at 2.00pm, and not 2.30pm as erroneously indicated in your report.

Darrell Pace
Communications Coordinator,
Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs

Editorial Note: MaltaToday stands by its story. Mr Baset was transferred to the forensic section, on the basis of medical advice as procedure requires, after raising a storm over the suicide of Mr Lee inside Division Six.

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