Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1524066
7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 17 JULY 2024 NEWS KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt Investigation launched after prison officers allegedly carried out part-time work during normal office hours CORRECTIONAL Services Agency officers from prison's records department are being investigated over allegations they carried out part-time em- ployment during work hours. MaltaToday understands that at least three officers are being investigated, with an internal inquiry ongoing. Sources who spoke to this newspaper said the officers were doing part-time work, writing transcripts for court during normal work and over- time hours, with the alleged abuse happening "for over a year." The work involves transcrib- ing court proceedings into offi- cial written records, and Malt- aToday understand such work was carried out at the prison facility in Paola. The investigation was opened last week, with prison's Chief Operations Officer Col Etiennne Scicluna interviewing at least one of the officials as part of the inquiry. The sources also said the re- cords department management has recently been changed, and it is yet unclear whether the in- vestigation concerns persons who led the department. The department is tasked with managing prison data, includ- ing information about inmates, court hearings, visits and disci- plinary actions. This newspaper understands that the prison administration was not informed of the alleged abuse, with higher ranking of- ficials kept in the dark over the part-time work being carried out during prison work hours. Sources who spoke to this newspaper said the officers who are being investigated have not yet been suspended, but insist- ed the decision was "imminent". Questions on the investigation into the alleged abuse, who is leading the investigation and whether the officers will be sus- pended were sent to the Home Affairs Ministry on Monday. The prison administration has recently come under fire after MaltaToday revealed Correc- tional Services Agency Head of Strategy Svetlana Muscat was interrogated by police after al- legedly allowing alleged Daphne Caruana Galizia murder mas- termind Yorgen Fenech to meet people in her office. She is currently on forced leave from her job at the CSA. She is currently on police bail, with a decision on whether she will be charged in court or not expected soon. Corradino Correctional Facility (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday) Construction site inspections lead to sharp rise in stop-orders, minister reveals JONATHAN Attard said that 204 work sites have been or- dered to stop operations so far this year because of breaches in construction and health and safety regulations. The minister responsible for reforms in the construction sector said this is a significant increase compared to the 22 stop orders issued last year. "While last year there were 22 orders to stop work, this year, which we are only halfway through, there have already been 204. The number of in- spections has nearly doubled compared to previous years," Attard said on Monday during Xtra on TVM. Attard was handed the con- struction reform portfolio alongside the justice minis- try in January and has piloted a new workplace health and safety law that contains harsh- er penalties. Parliament unan- imously approved the law on Monday. Among the changes, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority will be com- pletely revamped and will have the responsibility to propose legislative amendments to re- flect new realities. "As I have already mentioned, there are changes that will lead to a shift in culture. However, from an enforcement perspec- tive, you can observe the statis- tics," Attard added. Beyond the immediate en- forcement of safety standards, Attard also mentioned the gov- ernment's broader efforts to support "third-party victims." He announced that he is set to launch several new services this month aimed at extending support beyond mere compli- ance inspections. These initiatives will address genuine public concerns, par- ticularly those of residents affected by unreasonable eco- nomic inconveniences caused by nearby construction sites. "These are some initiatives stemming from the Sofia in- quiry, but also others which go beyond even our electoral commitments to ensure we re- spond to the genuine concerns of the people," Attard said. Ǥǡ ʹ͵ ǡ ͳͻͻͲȋͳͻͻͲȌ ǣ ͳǤǤ ʹǤ ǡ ǡ Ǥ ͵Ǥ Ǥ ͶǤ Ǥ ͷǤǤ ǤǤ ǣǡǡͳͺǡ ǡǡ ǣͳͲͶͷͲ Jonathan Attard