The internal inquiry appointed by the Minister for Home Affairs and Security Glenn Bedingfield into the illicit use of a laptop at the Corradino Correctional Facility found no evidence to support the allegations of criminal activity that had been made.
The inquiry, led by Judge Emeritus Antonio Mizzi, concluded that although no evidence of criminal activity was found, deficiencies were identified in operational procedures relating to the use of electronic devices at the facility. As these conclusions concern sensitive aspects of the security operation of the Correctional Facility, the full report will not be published.
The inquiry established that the prisoner involved had been given permission to use a laptop in his cell in May 2024. According to the procedures in place, in such cases the USB ports should be sealed and the Wi-Fi connectivity disabled.
The investigation revealed that at some stage these regulations were breached when the seals were abusively removed, allowing the prisoner to access the internet. Preliminary analysis of the laptop also revealed that it contained a considerable number of pornographic films that had been downloaded from the internet.
Among the Board’s main recommendations is the introduction of clearer policies regarding the use of laptops by persons in prison, including the obligation to conduct a risk assessment before granting any permission for their use.
It was also recommended that regular inspections be carried out on laptops and other electronic devices to ensure that the imposed conditions are being observed, as well as that a clear protocol be established on how to address cases of this nature.
Minister Glenn Bedingfield forwarded a copy of the report to the Commissioner of Police for his consideration in the context of the ongoing investigation. He thanked Judge Emeritus Antonio Mizzi and the members of the Board for their work, as well as the correctional officers whose intervention led to the discovery of the illicit use of the laptop.
Minister Bedingfield said, “The allegations of criminal activity that were made have all proven to be unfounded. Some have once again jumped to conclusions for partisan purposes. Now that I have this report in my hands, I will be carefully evaluating its recommendations and taking the necessary decisions to continue to strengthen procedures and security at the Correctional Facility.”
