Malta has fared the worst among EU countries for the situation of prisoners awaiting judicial procedures, PL deputy leader Anglu Farrugia said.
Addressing a news conference, he said 64 per cent of prisoners in Malta were awaiting court procedures according to an OSCE report, by Prof. Manfred Nowak.
Dr Farrugia said that Malta had a big prison population when compared to other countries and an occupancy rate of 102.9 per cent. It also had just one correctional facility.
It was clear even from the report that the judicial and home affairs system was not functioning.
This clarified the importance for Parliament to debate a motion on reforms in the justice and home affairs sectors moved by Labour MPs Jose Herrera and Michael Falzon, which the House Business Committee had agreed would be debated by the end of January.
Dr Falzon also addressed the news conference and said there were worrying factors about which no action was being taken.
The drug problem was a major one and had become one of organised trafficking.
Moreover, there was no correctional aspect and the relapse rate of prisoners was high and of concern.
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